Purpose of ListToArray

The function 'ListToArray' seems so limited in its use.

local list:tlist = new tList

for local i:int = 1 to 5
 list.addlast ("Apple Rules!")
next

local arrayS:string[] = string[] (list.toArray())
' Result: arrayS=Null

local arrayO:object[ = list.toArray()
' string( arrayO[0] ) works fine

Is it supposed to work like this?
Or is it somehow possible to convert the list directly in a string[]?

Ghislain
MacIntel OsX 10.4.7