Definately cut off the flowering stem otherwise the poor old plant will stop producing leaves!
I didn't start pulling until quite late, so plan to continue ravaging my crowns until June time, or we are sick to death of it!
A lottie neighbour has a very unusual bubby, thin slender stems and very spike, almost acanthus like leaves. Curious for sure! Anyone heard of one that looks like that? I will have to try and catch up, altho I have only seen her up there twice.