Yes, it is more work to stop and start at a red light, but there are other trade-offs as well. In particular, if a cyclist can "get through" an intersection BEFORE cars in the same & opposite direction start moving again, it is easier to negotiate the intersection: The cyclist doesn't have to worry as much about the infamous "right-hook" of turning motorists. This requires, of course, that the cyclist has correctly assessed cross traffic.

Unfortunately, some personality types just can't handle the fact that cyclists openly subvert "the rules". I don't think that explaining _why_ cyclists do this is going to work on them, regardless of how pragmatic the cyclist behavior is.