Ken,
the reason why most breeders dont use hides with adult bloods is 1. some think it is not neccessary (like you said) and 2. lack of adequate space to fit two hides leaving enough room for movement, etc...plus they always seem to shift them around which gets kind of annoying every morning when they're both on the hot side, and vice versa.
I have been guilty of this in the past.
And what i have noticed is that 99% of the time, they will hide underneath the newspaper...which is even MORE annoying!
Thus, i would think they are looking for security and a retreat.
They arn't like your regular boa that will curl up in a picture perfect ball formation and huddle in a corner, and thermoregulate regularly. (no matter how badly we would like an impressive looking blood to do that.)
Dont get me wrong, ive witnessed them do it here and there, but never on a regular enough basis to actually make myself believe they dont seek security.
I have witnessed many different bloods seek certain sides, certain positions. certain hides, and certain temperatures as well as individual "personalities".
Now this is good, but not when you have to maintain a couple dozen of them and every morning you know which ones will have there water bowls tipped, which ones always shift there hides, which ones seem to always urinate on a regular basis, etc...
I know i havn't answered your question yet but im getting there...lol
The point i am trying to make is that regardless of what my caresheet, NERDS caresheet, VPI's caresheet tells you just because this is its own species...doesn't mean every single one is going to have a set way of housing or "personality" or like being fed this, or housed in that, etc...
So i would not leave out the possibility of a hatchling blood being able to thrive in a 6 foot enclosure. Hell, you would think because they do it in the wild they could do it in a 6 foot enclosure, right?
Heres comes the but....
But, You must take into consideration the knowledge gained over the years by people like the Barkers, Kara, Roy, perhaps myself in my short time as well as others who have experienced and learned from past information and hands on experience.
This has led us to a few given rules one must attempt first and then tweak it if need be.
And results are results.
If 95% of bloods thrive well in smaller, tighter, dimmer, humid conditions in captivity. One should only conclude that this would be the way about doing things, or in this case, setting up things with these requirements.
As a start anyways...
No one can predict that this blood will enjoy more humidity then that one, or that that one will use its hides more regularly then this one.
it would be nice! but its not the case.
But never would i suggest groing up a blood in a big 6 foot enclosure like the one above. It just wouldn't be right, as i've never housed a hatchling in a 6 foot enclosure with success, but i have housed smaller ones in cages 1/2 that size with ill-results.
So that would only make me think that an extra 3 feet wouldn't work either.
Sure you can argue that the security of the hide, in the end, is whats important.
But the idea of having a bunch of hides, or the security of a "hide" in a big enclusure doesn't neccessarily mean it will thrive.
Only the strong survive as the saying goes.
Seeing that most bloods have differing personalities, one would only think that in the wild, some dont make it because they lack the ability of others, like being stronge to begin with, perhaps some are more "outgoing" then others for the search of food. Perhaps, some like you say, are more timid then others, therefore lessening there chance of survival when it comes to leaving a secure spot to search for food.
Perhaps that missed chance of capturing that prey could mean there life... if nothing else is found available soon.
But luckily in captivity we can forcefeed. Although even that isn't guranteed once started.
That same lack of security or timidness is possible with bloods in captivity as well as any other snake. And thats why you see some hatchlings feed from the get go and do well, and others that make your hair fall out.
So, the question.... why? would you use the assumption that a "hide"..... because of its security characteristics, would help in offsetting a huge cage like that. When its been proven in the past that this hasn't been the case,...in most cases anyways.
What i see happening, is a snake in captivity, with weird scents, sounds, and movement, otherwise not experienced in nature in a large cage with a bunch of black boxes with holes in it, expected to eat and follow out its regular activities day in and day out till its big enough to comfortably feel secure. Which is Highly unlikely in my opinion.
And i doubt the fact that they are not "aware" of whats outside that hide box. lets give them a little bit of credit....lol
And if this was the case. It's very likely that it would have already been a known fact for bloods and for snakes in general.
But i would not be surprised that with an elaborate set up like linds mentioned...it could work. but is it realistic? or is it realistic in captivity? should it be realistic in captivity?
And can it be maintained in captivity, realistically?
I would also not be surprised that a well started hatchling could adapt to a large enclosure...assuming it had that sought after "personality".
But I for one, wouldn't try it, risk it , or suggest it. Because i have no proof, experience or have heard about it.
But thats the beauty of keeping these animals, no matter how much we learn, we can learn more.
So, if you want to try it, go ahead and let us know.
But i have no reason to agree with you that they just dont care how big the cage is. That doesn't mean your wrong. I just have years of information from others to back my claim up with!
But you never know, everything is possible, just more unlikely in this situation for me to agree.
Snakes are funny creatures..always a surprise. good and bad at times.
Goodluck with your blood! if you ever decide to move it to a big enclosure and it works, tell us how you did it.
Grant
They are much appreciated. And Ryan, (or maybe I should direct this to Grant) where is that care page you are talking about? I would really love to read up on it. I was really figuring that I was going to be housing a hatchling in a small rubbermaid until she grows big enough for such an extreme sized enclosure. But that would be a good size for an adult, am I correct? She would have enough "stretch room", yet feel comfortably secure in her environment? 
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