Can Direct Drive Feedback be turned off or reduced to a low amount?

Yes, through the control software you can reduce it down to such a low level it's safe to use for say a smaller child and then put it back up when you want to use the system at full power - it's a case of sliding an NM setting in the software. When using the Direct Drive on the lowest level you'll find that you will get little feedback but as you move the wheel in the sim the car will still steer as usual.