I’m concerned about bud rot in the future due to...

avoid condensation - so overlap of leaveve is the primary issue. with good circulation do not overdo any defoliation. prune leaves off for a specific reason and never just because. They are not just solar panels. they are the lungs and co2 is the limiting factor for growth more times than not. You seem to have good spacing between colas. When you do have to cut something off try to disperse it systematically and trying not to take all th eleaves from any 1 growth node. ATP is highly mobile. Worry more about total capture of light across canopy more than a few extra rays hitting a lower leaf. Apical dominance is the primary force inside the plant behind where the good buds grow. removing lower growth 24" deep or wherever you typically see good buds start to fade can reduce larf. it may not increase yield more than what you remove, but proportion of good buds will be greater. Need a little calculus and experience to hammer that one out. If it's a stretcher i go 24" deep. if it's a moderate size i go 18" deep. no idea how good or bad that suggestion is. even if good in my garden, you mileage will vary a bit.