i read something once about a study or something and it what i got out of the dark cycle, is that THC is developed as quick as it degrades in the dark cycle, the dark cycle will help ripen the plant, force it to push out some extra thc (thinking it's dying) and be more potent. By potent , i mean have more "active" ingredients, not more THC (probably same amount, but more of what it breaks down to (cbd whatever)
if you look at it as amber and milky, milky trichomes are produced still, as some degrade, resulting in higher potency overall. Degradation being higher than normal, but also production matches degradation
i always like to chop the tops off and let the bottoms go a few weeks, then do a dark cycle for a couple days , up to a week if i'm patient
the buds come out the way I like, and the dark cycle mumbo jumbo isn't "proven" but works for me.