"split /(..)/ makes a list with empty strings in it ..."

Already explained in Re: How to split, join and trim leading / leading white space and Re: How to split, join and trim leading / leading white space: this is not new information.

"Use one of these instead: ..."

Your alternative solutions are fine. They should be directed to the OP, as a first-level response. Your good suggestions, appearing at "Re^4", will be hidden by default.