Another part of this is the question of which ones look like they're about to resist arrest, even if they aren't.
Maybe the most obvious one is Harald Van Wyck. He gives that quick outburst, but then he gestures to Columbo and the other police that he's under control. It looks like a genuine close call when it comes to handcuffs, unlike any other arrest scene. Or at least the closest the show comes to one.
There's also Neil Cahill, who actually does resist arrest for a moment, but of course he's in a whole other category.
Although it wasn’t Columbo throwing the cuffs on the guy and the lady at the end, it was two uniformed LAPD cops that did. It was a great episode about a New York City connected mob guy, that came up missing, whom was the X husband of an actress that eventually became involved with a new wave rock club and the investment money came from the mob connected guy. Columbo began the investigation with the apparent suicide of the tabloid photographer reporter who was thrown out of his office window by the rock clubs owner, etc. Columbo eventually discovered the body of the missing NYC mob guy buried below the Koi aquarium in the dance floor of the club. Lots of great scenes in that episode IMO!!
But handcuffs at the end, no-“there’s no need for those”.