hacking, welding and fudging about with a steering column shaft it not my cup of tea - I put my life as more valuable - I wont want it to buckle my ribs inwards in a crash. I would want it to crumple up. Your jugaarafied EPS column wont.
Now back to the concern, how hard is it to turn a steering wheel? - any power steering system will provide best assist for the car, and dont try to palm the wheel while stationary.