It would be useful to have headers and footers for the actual pages similar to the module headers and footers.

One might want to put a message on specific pages that are not site wide comments.  The site wide comments can be put into the container's template.  However, headers/footers for individual pages would be useful.

True that you can simply put in a text box module in the content pane (header) or the bottom pane (footer) and clear out the module title field.  However, this will still show the container's title border.

What do you mean by a 'blank' container?

Correct me if my analogy is incorrect:  insert a text/html module into the top pane, no title, my header text and no container specified.  Is this what you mean?

Got it.  A completely blank container with a text box.  That is what I was looking for.

You can get the blank container here at Nina's website (you must be registered/logged in for it to appear).

Thanks leupold!