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The argument could be that from that position you have to be aware of every vehicle that might come alongside you; if you are in the traffic stream you only have to concern yourself with the one in front and the one behind, both drivers of which should be able to see you clearly.
Hoefla added the important point that she* make(s) eye contact with whatever's behind them and then move(s) out.*. This mitigates the risk but it is still less easy and reliable, and more stressful, than being in the traffic stream (assuming that you use your gears - or have a gear small enough - so that you are able to move off at the same pace as the motor vehicles).
So being to the left of the traffic stream is not necessarily bad but it will rarely be the best position. It also puts you at the mercy of other cyclists in front of you and their ability to accelerate and/or signal their intentions at the same time as you are negotiating with the driver behind you.