Option Lists - Removal of option list field deletes data in database table.

[nicktalsma]

Quick question here. Is there a way to remove an item from an option list without changing the data from previous responses.

For instance if I had the options: red, blue, green, yellow in an option list. And I had a form that used that option list for a field. And lets say I had 3 submissions from users who selected green... If I go an delete green from the option list, then it also deletes green from any previous submissions in the database, leaving me with a blank.

Is this normal behavior? Any workaround?