Starting a manifold - is there any detriment or benefit to leaving these lower fan leaves on?

I'm starting a manifold on this plant. I topped it, and removed all of the branches except for the two you see here. Will it inhibit growth to leave these fan leaves on? I thought it might help the plant if I didn't take off everything at once, but I'm not sure.

I leave mine until they die, unless the plant is large and healthy with too much vegetation. If you cut them it will slow your growth tremendously, but wont kill the plant.

Cut them off if you are doing a manifold.........otherwise it won't be a manifold.

MickFoster said:

Cut them off if you are doing a manifold.........otherwise it won't be a manifold.

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I'm okay with it not technically being a manifold if it helps the plant. I wasn't necessarily going to leave them on forever, but I thought that leaving the leaves for now might help the growth of the two branches, both by reducing shock to the plant and by having more surface area for photosynthesis.

No reason you can't cut them off later, fan leaves have nothing to do with your manifold, they aren't part of the structure. Leave them on until a few days after you finish your last topping.