Outdoor Pruning: Lower branches and Top Bud Sites

This is really two questions about what to prune on outdoor plants.

First, is it a good idea to prune the lower few branches early in veg, the ones hanging near the dirt? The theory I've heard is that if you prune those low branches the energy the plant would use to grow them out can be freed up to grow the top branches that have more bud sites and get more sun. Is this correct?

Second, I've always been told to clip the top center bud site (also early in veg) to allow the two bud sites on either side to develop better. I'm not sure this logic makes sense to me, the center bud site is the most prominent and you're getting rid of it to help the growth of the two weaker ones next to it. I'm I missing something here?

Both are common techniques for the reasons you described

Topping helps bush out the plant. One top becomes two while the lower branches also start to catch up a little. You want a nice canopy of colas. I pull branches down through their cages then top whatever is still sticking up too high till you get a nice flat canopy. More weight