I am doing lst right now and i think this might be the best way. Really fim is the same thing as topping you just cut it in a different place and get 4 main colas instead of the two you get with topping. The thing with LST is you have to start early which i did and its looking like im getting anywhere from 4-7 main colas and my cannopy is nice and even all around. Also with LST you dont shock the plant, with topping and fim you stunt the plants growth for about a week. SO my conclusion is LST will produce just as many if not more cola type buds and there is no stunted growth becasue you are not cutting any of the plant