AOS EAD, H4 EAD, Loss of H4 status

[Sujay2021]

Hi,

Please share your wisdom on this this scenario:
* Husband on H1; wife on H4 and has H4-EAD. 
* Both are also on pending AOS. AOS EAD applications pending due to backlog.
* Husband's H1 extension was recently approved. Wife's H4 pending. Filed for H4 EAD renewal concurrently with H4, and that is also pending.

Now, the questions:
1. If wife gets AOS EAD before H4 EAD, and she uses it to work, I understand she will lose her H4 status. But if that H4 petition was still pending at that point, will USCIS deny it straightaway?

2. If the wife needs to visit her home country in such a case, is there any way for her to return to US? APs are taking a lot of time (like everything else), and she would no longer have H4. Then is her only option to wait for AP? Or can she get back on her H4 and get a new H4 stamp via consular processing? 
If yes, how might that work though, because USCIS would have denied her H4. 

3. Would a safer option be to avoid using the AOS EAD and go with H4 EAD renewal instead? 

Please share your thoughts. Thanks.