Here is why I do it. I have a 4x8x7 tent with 2800W. I cant pound the light through all the foliage. Everytime I make room for light to get through, within a day or two, they've become this much bigger, branchier shrub.
Do I want to pull the leaves off? No. They are important to the plant. When space is limited though, you create it (space), and it fills it back in.
Do I suggest doing this? No. Definitely not if you have plenty of room. When your working in the space I am, air flow is a pretty big factor. You can have all the fan leaves in the world, but if your air quality is poor, that can be an issue too. It is a serious balancing act when you have very limited room.
Thanks for reading.