Hey 👋
Yeah, you can see pre-flowers.
Regarding defoliation... I'm not a big fan of it.
The lady will drop the useless leaves individually (mostly the ones at the bottom & in the middle where no light reaches). But she will use the nutrients from them and distribute them in the plant where they are needed.
Generally, it's not a problem, you'll be using nutrients anyway. However, if you don't suspect any issues with mold, etc., then I wouldn't do it - just my opinion.
But it looks good so far, good luck moving forward 🖖🍀👊