People with changed status can still use automatic revalidation

The whole Visa Automatic Revalidation is covered by Code of Federal Regulations.
Check CFR Title 22 §41.112 (d) (ii), it states,
"In case where the original non-immigrant classification of an alien has been changed by INS to another non-immigrant classification, the validity of an expired or unexpired non-immigrant visa may be considered to be automatically extended to the date of application for readmission, and the visa may be converted as necessary to that changed classification."