UTH vs Biosubtrate question

[The Knight]

Ok, I finally have a question for everyone.....

I don't have a snake yet, but checking into every angle I can think of....

I read Vosjoli's book, "The art of keeping snakes"...and he advocates the use of a Bio-substrate with heating from above, with a lamp.

I think, from everything I've read on the Source, everyone is using Under the Tank Heaters with some sort of Thermostat.

What's the opinion here on the Bio-substrate? I'm sorta nervous of using a UTH, just cuz I've heard a few horror stories of the UTH catching things on fire or drying out and "tanning" the item the Tank was sitting on. I'm sure there's some 'human' error with those stories, but just wondering.

PS - I do have Don Soderberg's book, "Corn Snakes in Captivity"....he's got a good photo lay out of the UTH, with some common sense on how to......

Anyways, any advise / help / experience on this would help.....Thx all.