Pruning Tomatoes!

I've always been unconcerned about how close I plant tomatoes, pruning the plants, and other commonly held beliefs about the "right way" to grow tomatoes. I've always planted with as little as ten inches between plants and believed that more branches and suckers means more blooms and more fruit. I've never worried about fungus problems from dense foliage due to my dry, breezy; climate.

I know I don't grow tomatoes the "right" way, but it has worked well for me. I'm wondering if some of the methods others use may improve my tomato production from good to great.

The following questions are asked in hopes gardeners who grow vertically on cages, trellis, or stakes will answer. I may be wrong, but I believe the pruning practices may not be as applicable to sprawling plants.

How do you space your tomato plants and why?

Do you space them for root space, plant space, or aeration?

How do you prune your tomato plants and why?

Do you remove all suckers and why?

Do you remove leaves from branches and why?

When do you remove the lower branches to prevent ground contact and why?

Do you top prune your plants and why?

How do you determine when to top prune your plants?

Do you believe any of the above practices improve the production of fruit and why?

Ted