Pretty cool critter , Not something you like to think about when it's your live pet but they would make a cool mount. For that matter, I just googled pet taxidermy I see it's fairly common in other parts of the world.
What you don't think of . Worse yet I was born with extra curiosity and judging by the way they walk instead of crawl like most lizards I will guess yes.
You think you know someone on the internet then you find out he keeps an 80lb man eating reptile in his pool. At least his tail grows back if some asshat tries to crop it.
Not a komodo, theres lots of big species of monitors that get in that size range. Hes a sumatran water, they get up to 9 or 10 feet, but not as heavily built as komodos. Theres probly ten othe species of water monitors, and then the blackthroats from africa get heavier but not as long, the croc monitors get the longest but stay skinny live in trees and have a long prehensile tail.
the australian variety creeps me out most - not sure why
for me it's not a visual (tongue etc.) creepiness.... it's that "hey - watch that SOB" recognition (respect) of their unreal speed, agility and power - lightening fast, claws up the ying, and nasty bite