While using the Amtrak website to look for fares LAX/NOL on the 17 April I was offered two different fares for a Roomette. One was $404 and the other was $646. I have been told that they are selling space in the crew car and thought that might be the difference. I called 1-800-USA-RAIL and a very helpful agent was finally able to figure out that the $646 was actually the "H" or Handicapped Room. Two weeks out they are able to sell it to the general public and it shows up in the res system as a "Roomette". The Family Bedroom and the Bedrooms are sold out at this point.
Kudos to "John Cadmus" for knowing his stuff and for knowing how to find the answer to my question. I'm going to make a decision tomorrow on this trip.