like_escape in meta_query

[Lucas_Lobosque]

Array (
  [post_type] => gallery_post
  [posts_per_page] => 4  
  [paged] => 1
  [meta_query] => Array (
    [0] => Array (
      [key] => author
      [value] => B%
      [compare] => LIKE
    )
  )
)

Right now, like_escape is used in the meta_query value, but what if I want values starting with letter B, like in the example above?
Why not let the user explicitly use like_escape or add a flag or something to keep backwards compatibility?

[SergeyBiryukov]

#19738, #23919