Since trying to find out how to say "omicron", I've fallen down a rabbit hole of pronunciation differences. I think I pronounce all these leading "a" sounds differently.
1. all, alternative
2. almond, amen (short a)
3. allowed, amend
4. allegory, apple
5. ale
6. ate, asynchronous
Maybe 5 and 6 are the same, but I don't think so.
Do you pronounce these differently? Are there even more leading "a" sounds?
The nature of vowels (as opposed to consonants) is that the vowels can be varied in length (in simple terms, anyway).