The density of each nug is genetic from what I've been able to find. Internodal space is key in terms of how the buds "stack".
In terms of LST - yes, do it.
"Wonder if it might be worth growing them naturally" - "naturally"…in a grow tent with a grow light and chemical fertlizers is not quite what I'd call "natural"
Nah - turn it up to 11. Cannabis loves light. In the past two years, during which I've spent roughly a couple hundred hours reading everything I can find on cannabis and light, the consistent message is that, assuming that light is the only constraining factor, plant and crop yield and quality increase as light levels increase. The data below indicate that it's an almost linear relationship.
Check this out. Source cited in the text.
Bugbee and Chandra document the roll off in the net photosynthesis curve >500µmols. This paper documents that yield and quality increase as light levels increase. The curve for those data isn't linear, as I show below, but, for example, going from an average of 800µmols to 900µmols resulted in an 8.4% increase. That's an extra ounce for every 12 ounces in your grow. Get it to 950 and you've bought a 12% increase. Even at 34¢ per KwH here in the People's Republic of California, that 12% is bump in yield (and the concomitant increase in quality) make it worth it.
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