odd post?!
dont think your going to get many people disagreeing with your animal cruelty is bad theme……
but it isnt the habitat change that kills snakes, its lack of water, heat, adequate shelter, and pests (mites worms etc) and dirty containers.
most snakes die in captivity due to chest infections, they only have 1 lung so are particularly prone to respiratory conditions.
as long as they are quarantined, or treated for pests, snakes are probably one of the best animals to capture live (unless they endangered) and ship around, as long as their basic needs are met, they are far easier to keep successfully than tropical fish or a cat or dog.
they dont need big enclosures, (most move very little in the wild) they dont need toys or adornments in their cages, they just need the right amount of heat and shelters and water, and for their enclosures to be cleaned regularly.
I once had an 6 foot ratsnake shipped from a reptile shop up north in a big bag and a temperature controlled polystyrene container.
it was fine, lived for its full life span (exceeded its natural span actually), bred happily and was a very happy snake as far as i can tell…