Resistor near point-of-contact for better ESD-protection?
There is no difference in having the resistor by the USB plug or by the wrist strap - it's in series, so the location has no bearing on things.

The "moment of contact" is the moment when the path between your wrist and the USB socket is made. That could either be when you have the strap attached and plug it in, or put the wrist strap on when it's already plugged in. Either way it's via the resistor.

The only "improvement" in the location of the resistor would be to have it inside the laptop. That way, if you happen to be touching the metal shield of the USB connector with your finger as you plug it in, the resistor would still be in the path. That's the only time the resistor in your cable would possibly be ineffectual.