I've always heard and seen that you should handle your snake during every aspect of it's life. I can soak Loki, take him for a walk, even feed him during a shed....and he won't eat anything but live rats.
Merlin (the wild caught) I'm still working on, and he's not comfortable eating during a shed, but he'll allow me to handle him.
Yes, I know that every animal is different, but I honestly believe that if you handle your snakes enough, it creates a trust between you and your pet.
What happens if there's an emergency and you have to move a shedding snake?
Or a snake that has just eaten? If your snake is the grumpy kind, you're more than likely gonna walk away with teeth marks because your snake wasn't used to being handled.