A company in Auckland, NZ currently operates one of these 'normalised' R22's for training and private hire. Personally I think its a waste of time but it does suck in the odd student who likes the feel of a real phelic shape between their legs...
As a matter of further interest, they also hire it with panniers or 'helipods' which are mounted on each side and supported by the skid. This is interesting because my understanding is the skids on a robbie are not designed in any way for load support in the horizontal plane ie. a force pressing in on them (if you get what I mean..). The undercarriage on the r22 is designed to collapse and absorb the impact G's(as most are)This hopefully saves some damage to your back and I suspect that these pods may impeed this. I may be incorrect, but the R44's suffer the problem of a lack of carry area and the kiwi's and aussies have scratched their heads for ages trying to figure a way to make these aircraft really commercially useful. If we could legally fit litters, we would've.
For those who drive R44's this query. To my thinking the R44 is the Daihatsu of the sky. It is well constructed and real fast but lacks an inherent feel of solidity around it. This I notice particularily at 100 - 130kts when the aircraft seems prone to buffeting and a lack of yaw stabitilty. This is further evidenced in moderate turbulence. Don't get me wrong, I'm definately no test pilot but I have wondered if the negative pressure area generated behind the engine at the exhaust outlet, is disrupting the clean airflow over the vertical stabiliser?
To contradict my theory - I recall that removal of the semi-circle cone on the rear of the MD600's notar, improved the yaw stability significantly. This section now is completely removed.