my view is let the pax have the controls for a few minutes, as long as the aircraft is not put in any danger there is no harm in letting them have a feel for what flying is all about. It's no worse than putting the aircraft in the hands of the A/P.
To those who say no they should not be in control, do you make your pax fly in the back or if you do let them in the front do you handcuff them so that they cant touch anything?
This is one of many reasons why GA is going the way of the dodo, people take the interpretation of the rules to the extreme because they are scared of what might go wrong, even though GA flying is safe.
Flying is meant to be fun, not a chore.
fats