It was put to me earlier that it is a more positive opening in reply to a question than say 'It seems to me' or 'In my opinion' and may be part of a learned interview technique.
Can't quite envisage what circumstances that would apply to, Erekose. Can you give an example?
Indeed, I'd have thought that, at any rate in the context of an argument - and I think this is the criticism my wife was making of my own use of the word - 'so' can sometimes sound arrogant and patronizing. It can seem to imply that one's interlocutor is as thick as two short planks and just can't recognize one's own inexorable logic. 'QED. So you're wrong. (So there.)' 'It seems to me that you may be wrong' is more likely to make you popular with your friends, I'd have thought.