Faulty default PHP value generated for array columns

[e1himself]

When a column with ARRAY type is set as NOT NULL, there's no really a way to define default value to empty array.

   <column name="array_column" type="ARRAY" required="true" default=""/>

The above results in a default PHP value set for this column in the applyDefaultValues() method of Base{Model} class to null:

public function applyDefaultValues()
{
    $this->array_column = NULL;
}

where the default, should obviously be something not null, otherwise insert statements fail.