For a start, with a single income, mortgage, wife at uni two kids etc working full time means sweet F.A. for geting a snake 'when you feel like it'.
As far as your reaction to being told to wait a bit and really look around... if you don't want advice from people who have been there and know what they are talking about, then why ask? You can buy a snake tomorrow and have it freighted to you for around $220 and you'll have a snake and then you'll see the variety that hits the market in three months and although you will still love your snake you will still think 'What if???'
If you are struggling for money look at how much extra you can save in that time and by reading and researching you might decide on a different variety that is out of your current price range, that may be even more to your liking than a standard Stmi or Mac. With your post about knowing Corn snakes are exotic but how can you get one and now this thread I am starting to think you are on a spontaneous trigger to a certain extent. Be aware too that your snake will be a twenty year companion potentially, you want to get it right.
But you are right I love watching my girl, there are nights where I hardly see her but when she is active or when I have her out she is a real character.