Is There ANY Sense in SQL Data Type VARCHAR(1)?

I've bumped into a lot of VARCHAR(1) fields in a database I've recently had to work with. I rolled my eyes: obviously the designer didn't have a clue. But maybe I'm the one who needs to learn something. Is there any conceivable reason to use a VARCHAR(1) data type rather than CHAR(1)? I would think that the RDMS would convert the one to the other automatically.

The database is MS SQL 2K5, but evolved from Access back in the day.