**** Disclaimer.... I am on my first crop, and according to my rating can barely accomplish rolling a joint...
Many plants pictured here, and everywhere else do look like they are missing a few leaves on the bottom branches. This does not necessarily mean that scissors were involved. Perhaps, and I am guessing based on what my plants are doing.... Some of the bottom leaves seem to "shed" off naturally. New growth on the top-side, seems to keep up with "shedding" on the bottom-end. { If the new growth did not keep up with shedding.. I would obviously be concerned. }
To someone that doesn't know my plants history, or my techniques etc... in a few weeks it may very well look like I administered a "haircut" , a little trim around the ears. That is not the case.