UDAs have default values.... that is to say when you make a new SPEC or anything else with a UDA on it you will get the default value set automatically. The UDAs (and there default values) are defined by the administrator in the LEXICON module.
There are some limitations UDAs one drawback is there is no way for setting "valid values" for example.... it might be nice to have a UDA :PLATETHK that could only be set to 6, 8, 10, 20 , etc. However in LEXICON all you can do is define default say 20 and specfy that the UDA is numerical.... so now the user is free to enter 6.778 NOT A STANDARD SIZE :( Valid values do exist in templates, and with Data access controls you can do some things to help but basically that is it.
On your query..... I don't think it is possible to set a different default values for core attributes. However you could modify the forms and menus to create and update the value behind the scenes at the point a user creates through the forms and menus. Or you could allow people to create all the elements you want with the wrong value then collect all these wrong valued items and correct them in a list or DO LOOP macro.
Thanks Big_G. I was afraid that would be the answer. Because there are so few of these particular items, I'll just go with option two and fix them with a macro.