I'd much rather ride out 6-8 (more like 12) inches into the road to begin with rather than swerve in and out of "traffic" however light it may be when the shoulder is not wide enough to give me ample protection.

I'll gladly yield that foot or so to a car as they pass me safely (or be glad I have it as they pass me unsafely).

But it seems that moving farther left as they are approaching could be construed as a jerk cyclist move and an attempt to prevent a pass (which, incidentally is illegal in many (most?) vehicle codes (at least the ones I've been reading recently)). Doesn't sound like something that's going to earn us many "share the road" points, and we need them. Safer or not (and I'm not convinced it's safer than just riding in the lane to begin with) I think it would serve mainly to earn us more ill will amongst drivers.