It is not a dumb question. Ripeness is hardly ever a one-time event on a cannabis plant with several branches and flowering sites at varied heights. Here is how observational harvesting, like you are noticing, works. Take what is ready. Adjust everything for the new form on the plants when possible. Wait ten days and see if there is a gain that is worth the ten days extra for the lower half to ripen longer. It's going to vary if its worth it or not by situation and by the different plants themselves, so.... Unless you have a stable genetic like an IBL where all the traits are locked in. That reliablility and predictability can be repeated. So if harvesting what is ripe and waiting equals a gain on a stable line can be noted as working or not the next time you grow it. Just keep watching the plants like you are, thinking about it, and you will find the way.