I've found this comparison rather fascinating with regards to the topping debate.
Pictured are two basically twin habanero seedlings I potted up about a month ago into the same soil mix and same containers, receiving the same amount of sunlight. They have started to take off — but not before one of them was topped overnight by heavens-know-what in the first week post-potting up. Cat, crow, or the sawflies that chewed up lower leaves before beneficial insects arrived on the scene.
Fast forward about three weeks, and the upper plant (not topped) has taken off vertically and is developing some buds at this point. The lower plant (topped) has bushed up and spread out, but that's about it for now.
I'll mark and follow these two plants in particular if anyone's curious for updates further along in the season.
Happy growing!
by insteadofwhatiam