Not necessarily pertinent to this case, I had to guard all the controls in the 350 all the time with passengers aboard. I seldom flew with dual controls (pilot seat on the right front) with a front seat passenger but even in those few cases people equated the cyclic with car steering wheel properties and would push it around, usually forward for more leg clearance. I always wondered if the 350 would go over the nose. Now I know that it could with some power applied..
Even without dual controls, you should guard the collective- the 'critters' might set their bag (and strap) between the seats, often fouling the FFL, pushing it down to shut off or pulling it up from idle to useful power. The twist grip B3s were much much better cockpits.
I loved the 350... except the Lycoming D.