I get what you are saying completely on the logistic/risk parts.
The light penetration thing, although a good point I still disagree with. You may get deeper penetration (straight face) if in a 3x3 under normal grow conditions but the density of buds the lower you get suffers, this is why the likes of UB topping for 4 is out dated if pushing for weight. If you spread out that canopy over a cage it is obviously less dense but the area will increase a lot more. The most important part is the light hitting most of the thin canopy at optimal intensity. Essentially every bud is going to have the density of top bud and although smaller in size, they will out weigh donkey dicks volume wise.
In an ideal situation you would first max out surface area canopy. With that maxed out you would also max out light intensity/spread to cover that area. Once that's maxed out you would have no other real option but to increase canopy density where possible, but that could detract from initial surface area.
Yes I have heard and read the theory. Problem is I don't Grow for yield. I grow 1 plant at a time from feminized seed spaced out about 10 days apart now for harvesting a plant every week or two. I want the highest quality and plant potential I can get.
I don't use boosters or additives. Just potting soil. Well water and pure Blend Pro Grow as needed.
Any soil and nutes I tried gave similar results.
I keep the plants on stands to even out the canopy and my 2 600's overhead in sun system blockbusters grow dense bud 30" down through the canopy.
Of course genetics and conditions are going to drastically change results im told. But any good genetics have proven to get results with a good Grow.
In fact I think the environment and individual Grow are more important than genetics for the most part.
I try new seeds all the time. I have no way to know my results each seed can be different. Especially poly hybrids.
How much would I get if I grew a room of clones from a high yielding monther plant together?
I am already matching the best numbers I read from the vert claims here.
I suggest practice. Not labor intensive techniques. I bend these plants and tie them down only once usually. And I move them all around every watering to give them equal light all around. And air flow. Which is just as important.
All 3 plants are from different breeders seeds and were grown at different times of the year In my ventilated room.
The lowers may be smaller but they are just as dense and frosty as the tops. In fact. I mostly smoke the little buds due to high value and demand for the tops when it comes to donations.