Hi Calparsoni, I`m with you, my salvators over the years have been fed a whole vertebrate prey diet from the start, some refusing insects of any kind, especially the juveniles (not for the want of offering them). The reason I recommend fuzzies over pinkies is pourely because they`re larger, which means more nutritious (more protein, more roughage etc, etc).
Pinky mice are fine for the smaller species, and reptiles with lower metabolisms,and a less active lifestyle. That`s what`s so different about them; when active, they "operate" a little more like mammals/bird as far as energy needs and usage goes..