This is a topic that has been around for quite awhile on some of the other trapshooting discussion boards.
The fellow should still get "ignition", even if his wad wasn't compressing the powder, but he may not get as good a velocity.
As far as the HS AA base wad, preventing the shot wad from going in all the way, this has been the reason suggested for the hull bulge on the final crimp, some have been getting. Winchester has some suggested adjustments for the set up on the wad pressure settings, as well as the pre-crimp settings, to prevent this problem. Apparently it does help.
I have loaded a few, and if I am slow on the final crimp, I have no problems with hull bulge. I do if I yank the handle down fast as I do with any other hull, old style AA's or STS, the new HS AA will bulge.
Bob is correct in that the WAA12, WT12, and I imagine some of the WAA12 clones should fit the AA hs hull, without a hangup, but you never know......
More reason to become a hull digger at the local range, and try to get more of the STS hulls, if you can find any... :-)