Does XMLTOCURSOR misunderstand integers?

My problem is that when I have a cursor containing an integer that has a value of 1, after it becomes XML and I do an XMLTOCURSOR, the field is interpreted as logical.

Not sure if this is a bug or a feature, but it's dashed annoying! I can get round it by converting the value to a numeric (or indeed, by avoiding the values 1 or 0). Scarcely elegant! Anyone got a better way? I'm hoping that someone will say ah, SET XML TO "Sensible" will do the trick ;-)