leaves store energy as well as produce it so the leaves that don't get light still have an important purpose. i don't think it's a good idea to cut leaves. i used to grow scrog style so i topped a plant as much as 50-75 times throught it's life. what i did not do was cut fan leaves of unecessarily. i would cut very few leaves above the screen to make sure all budsites got equal light. i would never cut anything below the screen. 1 grow i cut lots of fan leaves and removed all growth under the screen. the result was buds that were alot leafier and less dense than usual. i am a firm believer in not cutting anymore than you absolutely need to since that grow!