You don't have to defoliate to have manicured buds...
I understand why you do it> Since you don't have side lighting + bad penetration LED.
Topping + bending or CCOB/Crop Circle training will give you the best yields or if you had dropped a few CFL side light down near the bottom buds they will swell into nuggets without removing leaves.
I grow 1000w vert. and get ~2 lb a harvest which can be anywhere from 4-6 mo. depending on strain + Veg. time required. Only 2 plants!