What is the preferred method for a row that needs to span the entire width of the container? As in, without the 15px margin on the column? Just set the margins to 0px?
Any content should always be in a container. The 15px margin keeps the content from laying against the side of the browser. If you want to do a fullscreen background or image or something then you don't need the container.
Exactly this. If you want to create a bleed, don't use a container, but if you want content inside that bleeding element, put a container inside of it, which will keep content from bleeding.
If you need multiple bleeds on a page, use multiple containers. Just don't nest containers inside of containers.