pruning I think is important. because of this. if one heavy leaf is covering 4 or 5 more smaller ones. or even a bud site. it will not get light it need to produce. if you watch all the big growers and stuff. and even smaller folks. in flowering 25th day and 52nd day they prune. most all people I know do this. so buds can form and get tight. or your going to have lose and small buds.