Opinions on getting clones ready for outside

So this year I started my clones under some t8 lights in March and by the time I put them outside they were 3 ft tall but lanky looking from stretching under the t8's. I've grown indoors before but this was my first year growing outside. My neighbor put some 6 inch GG4's in June first and got double the yield that I did. This year I want to get my starts in mid febrary and put them under some gavita 1000's. I've asked a few experienced outdoor growers and I've heard half of them say to get small clones that will have a fresh start to get big and the other half say to veg plants as long as possible to get em big.

I've searched many threads on here and icmag for years before being able to live in a state where growing outside is ok

My question is which do you prefer?

You just don't veg them that long,next time soon as your clone's root well put them outside as soon as it starts to get dark.