Well said, and true. I think folks do not have a handle of snake temps. Even here in the hot arse desert. Kings seek temps from the sixties to the mid eighties, IN THE SUMMER, In the winter, they are forced by winter temps to use temps from the mid forties to whatever they can find that's usable.
What's of interest is, Body temps are more aligned with prey availability then season. As Rainer mentioned, they seek heat to digest prey, and as mentioned, they generally seek high temps to start the breakdown of prey, then move cooler and cooler as the process continues. Also, they have no need to utilize high temps with small prey items.
Oddly, or no so oddly, prey is scarce in winter, so snakes stay at their lower temps.
Higher temps are required for extreme metabolic processes.
1. digestion
2. rapid growth
3. reproduction
4. Immune system
Even during the above heat seeking events, its space with cooler temps as needed.
As Rainer says, give them both, and they then can utilize energy to the best of their abilities.

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