Autoflower defoliated

In my opinion, yes, a big, big mistake. Your plant was relying on those leaves to make the energy she needs to grow her biggest and best flowers. She will now struggle to make enough energy to sustain herself, let alone be able to grow her best flowers. Some well considered "lollipopping" is ok, but removing a huge amount of leaves is, in my opinion, plant abuse. Those leaves would have also supplied your plant with a "ready made" supply of carbs, sugars, starches, amino acids etc that she would have accessed during flowering, rather than dividing her energy between flower growth and making carbs, sugars etc from new at the same time, as she now must do. All the time, energy and effort your plant has invested in her energy making/energy providing system (the leaves), for the last few weeks and to be able to sustain her energy needs for growing her flowers, has basically been for nought. Removing huge amounts of healthy leaves and forcing your plant to then grow new healthy green leaves is rather self defeating. Huge defoliation like this can also cause a major "metabolic shock" to the plant and induce all sorts of weird things in the plant, like hermaphroditism or a refusal to flower. Anyway, what's done is done, but, there is no other way to put this, you have basically shot yourself in the foot, as the plants ability to make energy has taken such a big hit, will mean she will struggle to grow her largest (potential) flowers. Just remember, if your plant did not need those leaves, it would not have grown them in the first place. Leaves are basically solar panels. Less solar panels = less energy = less growth. Not much you can do now, other than try and keep her in good health and hope she doesn't suffer too much from this massive set back. In future, try only removing yellow leaves, for by the time they are yellow, they have served their purpose. Removing healthy, green, energy producing leaves just cripples the plants growth due to the reduction in energy production. This is basic plant biology and it can be no other way. It is a scientific fact, not a myth from la-la land. Probably not the news you wanted to hear, but acting first then asking questions afterwards is not the best option either. Cheers, Organoman. (and anti defoliation psychopath!)

I grow autos non stop and average a quarter pound plus on them. So hopefully my results provide correct insite. They are not photoperiods and not fans of high stress. Can also cause hermi's.

Unless plant was super bushy defoliation on autos is not recommended. Their leaves are like solar panels to produce energy to grow. When you take those away you hurt your final results. 🤞for a decent yield still. Good luck