true the very basic photosynthesis light = life sure, but did you ever wonder why the bud that has been sitting under all the foliage in the dark is so small compared to the ones in the light? see this is why i said " in moderation" because "sometimes" you need to cut a leaf or two, it does happen. my first outdoor grow we decided to test it like three years ago. we had trimmed an area so that light would get all the way to the bottom of the branch where as we left everything else the way it was, now.. the branch we trimmed a bit actually had a smaller main bud, but the rest of the buds down the branch were bigger then other lower parts of other branches. coincidence? perhaps im no plant expert just a dude who has grown a few plants who likes to try a bit of everything.
im not saying anyone here is wrong, and i do agree that the leaves are VERY important to a nice healthy plant, but i can also see how trimming a little can help the as well.
so do what you feel you need to do to your plant, if it does not work out how you planned, guess what? grow another one and dont do what ever you did to mess it up the first time... its a plant... you can grow another one.