i am no expert but i think you are supposed to be careful mixing lst and topping/fimming. my experience is kinda the same, easier to stick to one or the other and i wouldnt lst branches that have been topped/chopped in anyway. but that just my 1.5 grows of experience..i was lst'ing a plant that had initially been topped, and the top is gone now, cuz it broke off, the topped branches cant handle the bends. top for pretty looking plants (normaller looking), they're uniform, easy- one snip or pinch and yer done. lst for monsters and super moms. lst causes more side growth and is better at keeping it low but also more maintenence, but topping may keep the nodes closer.