It's a choice, earlier ripe peppers or more energy for the plant to grow larger and produce more peppers in total by the end of the season. On 1st year plants I leave a few blooms but pick off the rest. That way I know sooner that the plant is really what I think it is and have a nice sample to eat, while still giving the plant a little more energy to grow larger.
2nd+ year plants are already big enough that it won't impact them so all the blooms stay on those.
I guess I haven't followed along with your crop this year but August is early for blooms? Never heard that before unless you got a really late start this spring or summer