I’m a herper and a former herp outreach educator, but not a herpetologist, for what it’s worth.
When I was younger (30 and under - ah, those were the days) I was all about catching and handling herps, as I imagine most younger herpers are. Catching lizards and the like are a major way for kids especially to get into wildlife. I think there is value, especially for kids, in using bug nets and catching lizards. I think back and cringe on some of my actions as a young boy, but I think overall it shaped me into an animal lover and was a net good. And using “animal ambassadors”(all former pets or unreleasable animals) in my old job, I think I’ve literally helped hundreds of people at least partly overcome their fear of reptiles, amphibians, spiders and roaches,which I think is important.
However, as I’ve gotten older I do a lot less handling of wild herps, especially amphibians (I think it’s important to separate reptiles and amphibians, the latter of which I believe are far more vulnerable to handling), and really only pick them up if I need to keep them in the area for a shot or to move them off of a road. I don’t really “pose” them for shots either. But I agree with @whimbrelbirder that catching them is a lot of fun, especially snakes since you have so little time to ensure it’s not a venomous snake and then try to catch it.