I fly an R44 II so I know this, I just didn't think a low time heli pilot would allow a passenger anywhere near duals. They should be removed. With regard to cyclic friction, this device was NEVER intended for this purpose. Whether it works or not I think is irrelivant, it was only ever designed to lock the cyclic when the heli is on the ground as per Pilots Handbook.
My advice to you Hairy is to master the heli as you were taught, when you have several and I mean several hundred hours under your belt you may wish to experiment. Personally I wouldn't, I think Frank Robinson and his team know their machines better than anybody and what they say goes IMHO.
Safe flying.