It's confusion between SST (sea surface temp) and Heat Content.
It matters not only what the temp of the water surface is, it's HOW DEEP the warm water is.
Right now it's passing over the loop current; it's not that the SST of the loop current is a lot higher than the rest of the GOM, it's that the warm water in it is incredibly deep; for hurricane purposes, infinitely deep.
The heat content of the water from where Katrina is to the Texas coast does in fact DROP, and is less favorable for maintaining intensity. The layer of warm water is quite shallow along the TX coast.
All kinds of people calling saying they arent leaving....they are nuts.
http://www.click2houston.com/video/5000985/detail.html
Others are crying not knowing what to do...
Waiting for the next model (track) to run. Lotsa uncertainty this late in the game.