Merge range of cues oddity

Not sure if this is expected behavior, but when I merge info in the programmer into a range of cues that has gaps, extra filler cues are generated, which is something I don't remember happening before.
For example, I have some fixtures in blue at position 1 in cue 1, then move them in cue 9 to position 2 with no other cue in between.
If I change the color to red in the programmer, then record merge 1-9, then cues 2-8 are automatically generated with only the red color parameter in them.
I don't see the reason for the extra cues, I figured the operation would just force update cues 1 and 9 only.
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