Strong odor can be an indication... but not always.
DKing420, if it gave you a headache and tasted horrible, it was probably picked to early, and then smoked when still wet.
You have to dry and cure the buds for a good smoke.
Dunno who told you that... Amber trichomes are basically 'dead' trichomes, but they still have THC and other cannibanoids that give you that couch lock high. It's best to cut the plant when there's only a few amber trichs. It's really your taste.
My 2 cents:
Pruning the lower popcorn buds WILL produce more THC in the top colas, not because it will increase the potency of the plant, but because more energy will be diverted to the top colas, and if the colas are bigger, there will be more THC.
I would give it a nice flush today ( water volume 3 times that of the volume of your containers), then give it 24 hours before you put it into darkness. Cheers
You -could- get 5 pounds if you were very experienced... but you in most likelihood will not.. I'd stick with 2-3 ounces per plant, and if you get more, kudos.