Ngl topping is the worst thing you can do to a tree and Dale was right to call you out on it. Homeowners don't know any better, they just see a smaller tree and think problem solved, but all those big open cuts invite rot straight into the trunk. I've seen silver maples rot out in five years after a hard topping, and they were perfectly fine trees before that. Pushback happens all the time, but it's on us to educate them instead of just caving because it's easier. Show them pictures of what a topped tree looks like in ten years and most will change their mind.