its hard to say everyone will say something different. if there turning yellow and pulling off easy then defo pull them off because there just going to fall off anyway... but i pulled some of my top ones as-well if i felt they where blocking light or just getting in the way, and i didn't feel like it did me any harm once i was in the flowering stage... but its each to there own listening to some people they pull most of them off in flower but i was like you and couldn't bring myself to do that lol.... but i didn't leave that many on and don't think i will this time as I've not got a large grow room... and i was still getting 2/3 oz a plant which i was well happy with for my first grow.. maybe just clip a few and see how it gos????