It doesn't bother me either but am intrigued as to what it is exactly that bothers others.
There are multiple different uses being quoted here. The usage of 'so' as part of a warm up phrase as rshdunlop refers to it is what I assumed was also an Introductory Particle, though I must admit that was a new one for me.
The example of 'So you're wrong' is, as michael says another way of saying thus or therefore. This is surely old as the trees and not a new thing at all.
I had also offered a few examples that I know of where 'so' is used conversationally, not necessarily as a warmup. So, does anyone have an example of this new usage?