Let's pretend this thread and entire topic is inside of a box, *draws a box, stuffs thread in it*. Now I step away from the box and read everyones opinions, and yes i'm being a bit of a smart ass here lol.
I totally understand both point of views on this topic and it truly does come down to what ever you want to do because it's your snake, pet and it's your life. Now lets say Snake handler bob wants to get an Elapid because he has always had a fascination for the snake and would love to care for one. Bob also has many years of experience with snakes, including some agressive ones so he is capable of handling a hot with out much difficulty.
Bob also has 2 kids and a wife that live in the house. Bobs wife is a house wife so his income is the only income the family has. In this particular situation bob has a few choices. He could have his elapid as a hot and risk himself getting bit, taking the chance of dieing or being in ICU etc. Bob won't be able to go to work, possibly lose his house etc. Even worse someone else in the house could break the rules and get into the elapids cage and get bit and die because no one would know what to do to keep him/her alive.
option two which i have a feeling a lot of people will say. Bob has a family and if he can't afford to risk being bit he should just not own the hot and stick with constrictors.
option three, bob could have the venomoid surgery performed on his elapid by a licensed surgeon which would lower the risk of the snake producing venom if any at all. There is always a very slight risk so you all say, kinda like a guy getting a vasectomy, but i've had mine done for 6 years and no one has came up prego yet
Now some of you argue that hots need their venom because it's a natural defense. if your feeding your hot f/t rodents for food and they live in captivity 100% of the time... i'm not understanding why they need the venom, what are they defending their selves against?