[Racefan]

Size of container doesn't really affect internodal stretch a lot that I know of. Strain, temps and light intensity play a huge role. To utilize temps to stop internodal stretch you would want to keep day and night temps as close together as possible. Ideal temps that we quote to new growers calls for a 10 to 15 degree difference. By not allowing that difference the plants don't stretch as much. There was a nice write up about it at one of the major mags. Either high times or cannabis culture that was called.. "What's the dif?" It was copied and pasted here by smoking ***** but he titled it differently. You might try searching here at 420mag for internodal stretch or temp difference or as a last resort under his posts but that might take a while as there was a lot of them.lol There has been several discussions about this before so some info is available.
Try it both ways with the same strain and equal conditions, feed and care and judge for yourself about yield and vigor. You seem to want to believe what a few others have done or gotten away with over the tried and true basics and the only way to find the answers that pertain to your personal grow is to see for yourself. But I will bet my favorite hat that the plant that is transplanted in stages will outdo the plant that is just placed directly into a huge container.