Duckster, You really like to stir the pot, don't you?

Yes, Lefty still advocates the "stab" as does many other east coast saltwater casters
Ed Jaworowski, Mark Sedotti, Lou Tabory and probably many others all teach this style
The purpose being that that the longer the rod moves through the air, the more it helps to make the cast.
This is only needed for long and difficult casts.
What makes it controversial (at least on FAOL) is that in order to do this, and keep the rod/reel on plane, you must rotate the reel out from the body.
To do this is a big time no-no according to certain former FFF casting columnist