LST or defoliation?

If you have a well-thought out plan for your canopy, you can remove the growth you don't intend to use, but otherwise i'd keep everything possible. Like those completely shielded lower axilla (branches). You might have some congestion down the line, if untouched. the trick is having a plan. Work backward from end goal for your canopy. From those requirements train and shape the plant as efficiently as possible with the least amount of pruning and wasted growth necessary. Growin a bunch of plant mass only to cut it off is a contradiction. it's not smart. it's a waste of your time and resources. You only need 2.5-3 colas per sq ft to maximize yield. There should be zero gaps in your canopy as it fully matures. Light capture is the key to yield. a bunch of light missing the plant and hitting the ground is useless - wasted electricty.