So as Al said, you're overthinking it. Trains never sell out so far in advance.

Please use € prices if you want better help. Those prices are converted (and not necessarily at a favorable rate).

Trenitalia offers regular tickets only, that's why it's a lot more expensive. Eurail charges a 2€ fee per person per train (no seat selection) while RailEurope doesn't have fees and you can select the seat on a map.

Choose RailEurope when you're sure you're taking that train. Feel free to book closer to travel date.

Yes, the Eurail site charges a fee of €2 per ticket. That would account for the extra $7.

i don’t think anyone has experience of booking with Raileurope, because they only launched Eurail reservation service yesterday!

 But that’s the correct price. Book it!

I’ve booked it - my first booking done! I don’t know why, but the RailEurope site gels with me. It seemed much easier to use and more straightforward than the others. 

Great. Hopefully your trip is starting to come together now!

Yes, it looks like a much cleaner site from what I’ve seen.

Yes thanks. It’s starting to happen. That Rail Europe web site seems so much easier to use. I still have a few questions but will try to get as much out of the way as I can first, then raise my remaining queries.