The standard makes sense if you go back to the theoretical basis of SQL. It seems somewhat counter-intuitive only when you think of NULL as a value you set in a cell.
When it's the result of a relational operation (such as a LEFT JOIN) however, the default makes sense while considering NULLs as equal to each other is typically not useful.
When it's the result of a relational operation (such as a LEFT JOIN) however, the default makes sense while considering NULLs as equal to each other is typically not useful.