Too many buds because of LST? A yield full of popcorn buds??

bit early to assume popcorn buds. Those will stil have time to fatten up. Too many colas per area will reduce bud size at some point... usually you only want a little over 2 colas per sq ft. This way you get good light penetration and even the lower growth should do well. You've got an even, spread out canopy... try to train the outers stuff to bend outward as it fills in... worst-case you get have a few congested areas nd maybe prune off some excess. Stop defoliating so much.. all you have is small immature leaves. You don't have much vege growth left and the limit you caused to photosynthesis will have a more profound effect than a few too many mouths to feed if it doesn't grow out enough.