The risk that tongs have towards the snake is all dependent on the set of tongs being used and the skill of the person using them.
Pilstrom tongs and the others like them should not ever be used to handle snakes. They offer no protection to the snake and can easily cause severe damage to the snake. Now just because those tongs are horrible does not mean that all are. The tongs produced by raptor snake equipment, and even gentle giants are for the most part perfectly safe to use. They have been designed in a way to offer as much protection as possible for the snake.
While the design of the tongs is important, the skill of the person using them is key for the safety of the snake. Even with those well designed tongs, if the snake if too far back or forwards in the tong they can still be damaged through pinching or crushing.
Tongs though are just a tool, same as a snake hook or pinner. Use the tool incorrectly and you can damage or kill the snake. Personally I do not see the need for the massive hate everyone has for tongs (I used to be the same). Pinners and even hooks used wrong can do the exact same sort of crushing damage as tongs but people are not chastised for using them.
For the hobbyist and general keeper at home, tongs are completely pointless and should never be used. Tongs are potentially useful for elapid keepers, but only in extreme situations. The only people who should have tongs are relocators. The thought that they may never be need for a relocation job is naive. You could be the best handler in the world, however there are situations where you cannot safely catch the snake any other way.
Now before I get abused about ‘advocating’ the use of tongs, I am not. 99.5% of the time a snake hook and bag are all that are needed and should be used for relocations. That other 0.5% of the time though, different tools such as tongs maybe required to safely retrieve the snake. Part of being experienced is knowing when and when not to use the different methods and tools available.
Remember tongs are just a tool, it all depends on how and who uses them.
Cheers, Cameron.