I agree that you should create a little distance b/t each plant…..you’re gonna need it. And raise the net just a bit. Once you flip that entire area is gonna be full and wall to wall. It may cause a lack of space for your fan and whatever else you have in the tent, but you’ll get so much more yield; and the chance of mold is mitigated. Plants like a little space and to not be crowded.
As for the defoliation, I would def open them up a bit and lollipop em. I don’t like to strip every single leaf below the net but eliminate those lower bud sites. I will leave a few of the larger fans as a skirt…..kind of a reservoir for nutrition and they can serve a gauge for certain issues.