Python 3.8's tarfile module did the same.
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ class TarMixIn:
"--tar-format",
metavar="FMT",
dest="tar_format",
- default="GNU",
+ default="PAX",
choices=("BORG", "PAX", "GNU"),
action=Highlander,
help="select tar format: BORG, PAX or GNU",