Orangepeel

Well, It's actually safer that way. Imagine this: You're flying in your ship, but something goes wrong, and you need to use the LES. The ship's thrusters are still going, and your ship is going straight up. If the LES is propelling you straight up, you'd be stuck on top of the rest of the ship, and you'd probably get caught in the explosion. But, if it goes at a sideways angle, you go to side, away from the rest of the ship, and your kerbals survive. Get what I'm saying?