Hey guys just my opinion but using a screen will be the best way. If you trim anything off the plant that is less bud for you. I use a screen so everything is at the same level and get the same light. Bottoms will be just as good as tops if you give them light. Do you use a HID? If you I definitely think scrog is the best way to go then. My 600w penetrates a foot in to the mess of woven branches and I get good buds the whole way. Then I will cut the mature buds and lower the light to make the bottoms ripen up. Use tru blooms as a foliar spray every 4 days and you will never have a problem with them being close and getting mold. The tru blooms has microbes in it that not only eat mold but they make colonies on the leaf surface that competes with mold. As for them being close and not growing well.. I am doing a scrog with grand daddy purp.. big fan leaves.. but the light still goes in to the middle and when I push them aside I see ripe buds at least 7 inches down.. they're too thick to look any further down but I am confident.
So the other reason I recommend a screen is because you have so many beautiful branches going every way. This is a scroggers dream for sure. It'll take a couple hours to set it up and weave it through and what not but definitely worth it, you won't lose the energy producing leaves and you will increase your yield. People like lollipoping and they say it makes the main cola better.. but is that because they cut the plants ears, nose, fingers, toes off? Or is it because they focused all the light on the main cola? Betcha if someone tied the branches to the ground instead of cutting them and did the same thing they'd still get a rockin' cola. There are pictures in my journal to see the screen I use.