I know NOTHING about cloning... but I am going to try it very shortly, so I am watching your thread carefully.

That being said, common sense states that as long as they root, you can let the leaves keep dying. In an instance like this, your plant "COULD" be using nutes from the leaves to grow roots.

I had a plant where every single leaf fell off after turning yellow, then bown. I swear, I had a stick...lol there were some VERY VERY tiny green bumps (leafs). I mean you really had to look to find them.

It came all the way back and was beautiful.

This does not answer your question, but... just hope the roots are there, if they are, these plants can take a hell of a beatin'