I am doing this right..? I think they're ready to top, again.

Cut the growing shoot, but leave the fan leaf for any remaining node/branch, that node/branch is relying on those fan leaves to make the energy they need to grow. Each fan leaf is like a power station for each node/branch, less leaves = less growth.

Yeah, that is correct. I'd stop taking fan leafs of as these are energy, and its possible the reason why your getting new shoots so late below shoots that should be more matured. Chill on the defo. Let ur girl absorb the energy she needs. By taking leafs say from the 2nd set promotes growth on the next next and so on. So if doing defol look at what of your plant needs mre growth, light to reach and so on. Me personally I wouldn't top there you are only into wk3 of grow wait a little bit them nodes need to stretch the top at desired node. No harm in setting it grow first, it still in early days. Best of luck.

Yes you can chop it there