People act like Autos are so easily shocked. If leafs don't get light exposure they will die, you will pluck them sooner or later. Just remove a few at a time.
As for Autos having a Predetermined veg time, that's a crock. Growing in a bigger pot adds time to your total growth. An Auto seedling will show sex sooner in a smaller pot, and flower faster. Stress, nute strength, overwatering can add many days to your grow.
You are doing a scrog, not LST. Your scrog is too high and you did it too late. It's not modified, you just didn't do it right. Your plants Critical+ 2.0 is light in color, get a better Air pump and it might perk up. Autopots keep your plants too wet, the pots are too big and they just sit in water. Without proper Air your Coco is staying too wet for your roots. Invest in a better pump if you want better results in 4gal pots.