Yes these are good points. Sometimes a plant goes into shock and delays a week behind the others and becomes a runt. It never catches up to the others.

What I do is I clone 2.5 times the number I am going to flower, then veg 2 times the number I am going to flower (choosing the best clones), then I flower half of that, choosing the best veg plants. And I expect 1 flower not to make it.

So as an example I clone about 12 or so. Then I choose the best 10 and throw away the other 2 to 4. Then I choose the best 5 and put them into flower and hope to harvest 4.

This really brings out the best.