To cut or not to cut?

Well that is the question.. Should this bottom stems be cut? If so will it make a bigger difference in growth for the tops flowering? Or will those small stems create a decent sized nug worth keeping? Mind you the plants are about 3 ft tall. And these stems are about only 6-7 inches from the top of the soil. (Photos included to help with any advice)

I'd leave them.They will grow decent bud. Even if it is small popcorn bud , it is something to smoke while the good shit cures.

any lower branches u cut will just direct more energy to the top buds and branches,it may shock the plant for few days but it will recover fine,as large and bushy as those plants are id just chop them,they wont get very big buds,on my current grow alot of the lower braches died off on there own due to lack of light,so i didnt even have to cut them,lol,or u could let them go and see what happens,my last grow i cut them at about 4 weeks flower and got a 1/2 oz of cured bud ready to smoke by the time i choped the whole plant,so while i was cureing it,i had nice 1/2 to smoke

if there is space in betwen your plants.. they do better than ones crammed close together

All very good, valid points.. Now this decision just keeps becoming more difficult cause both solutions have a good use and purpose.

if you have a closet or a bathroom you can use it as a darkroom/area... split your crop in 1/2.. rotate every 12 hours