I have done them all kinds of ways. Scrogged.. Topped and cropped.. You name it ive tried it. Or plain natural. I wouldn't call the bottom branches "sucker branches". But im kinda lazy these days. I dont want to prop up or tie up 6 or 7 branches. I run an ebb and flow style set up but put my soil mix in a fabric bag and set my nutrient /water level just about an inch up. Throw some rockwool chunks and a handful of clay pellets in the bottom of my bag to let it drain and the roots breathe. I have my system set to feed once a day.
Either way.. A 36 or 42 inch tomato cage works well to keep things propped up. Very little work. Add a float valve to keep my res topped off as they use water and all i do is add nutes to bring the ppm to where i want it.
It was a cold winter so i switched out my 600 hps in the middle for a 1k
gavita de since heat wasnt a problem. I put 9 lemon haze under that mug and BOOM 3.2 lbs from that light.