Listen to your neighbor.

 

Ask this guy if he ever went through with it:

2016 Pilot Touring second row bench swap out for...

My wife insisted the second row on our Touring model be a bench (I wanted the captain chairs) so it would be easier for her when she's back there with our infant. Now that we plan on expanding our family, 2 car seats in the second row will not allow her to sit there, I guess she could squeeze...

www.piloteers.org

 

How old are your kids currently? Maybe we can barnstorm a way to use two infant seats in the second row on the 60% side and two child seats in the third row if they can buckle/unbuckle themselves.

 

I have three kids. One 2yo in a backwards facing seat, one 5yo in a big forward facing thing, and one 8yo sitting on a booster seat.
The 5yo is placed in the 3rd row to the right, the 2yo behind the drivers seat, the 8yo behind the passenger seat, which allows for my wife to choose between sitting comfortably in the front, or squeese in the middle to keep the 2yo happy when necessary. We still have the 2/3 part of the 3rd row folded to allow for more trunk space.
I donät know the age of your kids, but o me it sounds like you should keep the bench in the second row to allow for more options.