You can test the benefit of a steering wheel spacer as the quick release has 2 stages.
If you carefully release the wheel and pull it about 1/2" towards you it will engage on a second lock. It's OK to drive it carefully like this and you'll get a feel for whether the extra legroom is a help or not.
I would not drive it without the wheel properly latched in it's forward position, other than back and forth in the garage perhaps. I've heard tell of two folks who were "surprised" when the wheel came off in their hands while going down the road when not latched correctly. No accidents resulted, but a change of underwear apparently was called for.
