okay, here is some simple stuff.
i garden as well, say it flowers, like we are growing or fruit and seeds like the plant wants to grow i have a simple point.
when growing my lime trees or tomatoes or peppers or papaya, when they are young and i want them to grow strong i sometimes remove fruit the first season, no energy to fruit, better growth, easy enough.
but if i were to remove the leaves or even or portion of GREEN leaves while the plant is producing fruit or flowers, well, i would get crappy flowers and or fruit production.
and yes, buds are green, but does not mean they are the best at photosynthesis.
but in the defense of mr. dog, do whatever you want, i do different things every time.
keep on truckn'
oh and cloning, it is a delicate balance in what the plant does, leaves take in energy but also transpire, so moderate trimming helps.
different ball game with no roots