size isn't the key for lowers -- ripeness is. They will not get bigger at this stage as far as adding more layers of pistilated calyxes. It can get riper/fatter but not going to grow larger than they already are.
can't see the buds and you need a scope for the trichomes when you get to that last 7-10 days to determine the harvest date. Even that depends on your personal preferences as to how much amber do you want to see across the plant?
if the calyxes are fat and plump (pistil will look short or even coiled up), then it's time to start scoping the trichomes. You can read the plethora of suggestions for X% amber. if you like sleepy buds, let it heavily amber up all over. Buds near top often be more ripe than buds below. Excess light on top colas can exacerbate that gradient too -- when the top colas turn purple but the rest of the plant does not (i.e. not genetics), that is caused by a bit too much light / bit too close to light for those top colas. These buds are fine. may even be a good thing if there's little to no negative effect and provides greater light to lower buds... i'm not saying one way or the other is "best" just that it's beyond the capabilities of the human senses to evaluate it. it's a maybe, either way, lol.
Staggering the harvest is no miracle. you won't get much better buds down below by providing a few more days of light -- out of 8-10 weeks of lower time it's such a small percentage of the total that nothing major will be improved, but in an effort to learn your preferred harvest point, it's very much worth it.
anyway, once the buds look like buds, start to scope the trichomes. can take some buds early and leave the rest to ripen more or leave some buds to ripen more after bulk is harvested -- you can test multiple harvest windows to learn how much amber you want to see to trigger harvest. Or, takes 3-4 grows to figure it out, doesn't matter which.
drugs can affect people differently. look at Nyquil.. some fall into deep coma, others get hyper. you really need to learn this last part through doing it.