Aside from Slidell to NOL being a much shorter run, that run doesn't have to involve the conductor. The attendant is still awake and opening doors at the two stops.

That might not be the case in the scenario currently under discussion. There are 3 sleeping car attendants on the LSL, and each is guaranteed 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep. That means that during the night the 2 conductors have to cover the sleepers during those time periods. Since 1 conductor must open at least one coach, and one must work the baggage car, that doesn't leave any spare conductors to work the sleepers.

So one of the conductors must then run down to the sleeper to open that door. For this reason, crews would coordinate things such that say the Boston attendant sleeps from 11 PM to 3 AM and then the NY attendants sleep 3 to 7 AM. If that happens, then greasing the palm of the attendant doesn't work, since they have to tell the conductor that you're still in that room and wanting off in CLE. The conductor could be nice, but they could also demand that you pay.

It might not happen that way, but it could. Just saying.