I only take the buds off if it really has no scape to speak of. Sometimes the new ones, for me, send bud right out of the base, I find if I take those off, it will usually send up a regular scape pretty quick. . I never cut of a new real scape, I paid for it, I want to see, and if it stresses the plant so be it.
That is a good idea tho about at lest letting one flower bloom, to make sure you got the right plant. Even if the flower isnt good and a bit deformed coming out the bottom, you would still know.
