Okay, had enough sun for a day. I just completed the defol, but it is a very heated topic here on 420, but I made the decision for myself to do it. I started at the bottom and removed everything that looked like that it would turn into popcorn. I then worked my way up the plant and concentrated in the middle of the plant by removing the leaves that were on the inside blocking bud sites.
I look at it this way, if these plants grow out in nature, the strongest bud sites will most likely be pollinated, which is in the best interest of the plant to multiply and produce her seeds for the next generation. Also, there are critters that lurk out in the woods that like to munch on these little babies. Deer, rabbits etc. These plants survive this defol no problem and are then forced into concentrating on the bud sites & colas to procreate.
I don't know if this is right or wrong, since we are growing in controlled environments, but I suspect out in nature these little babies are used to being partially defoliated.
Just me 2 cents on this & we'll see how it works out.