I don't think you should compare M balfouri and L violaceopes. Sure, they both old world but one is an arboreal and one is a terrestrial. One lives in semi-arrid to arrid conditions and the other in monsoon climate, etc... I would say that both of them are definatly Not beginner spiders, probable defensive and/or aggresive behaviour and not really recommended for handling. I think a M balfouri should be compared to something like Harpactira or Pterinochilus...
Arboreals Rule