Hi d24e.
No expert but have some ideas for some of your questions. You can map textures to a precise location buy using a UV map, and edit the locations of the UV ware. Move it around etc. There is a funtion in the UV editer for doing pixle snaping, that snaps the UVs right inbetween 4 pixles like a crose hair.. (hair speeking of bunnys).

If you just wanted to add like a logo afect like numbers or a nother small pic of a sign you can projection map that on to the model. much like stencaling..

Nurbs are difrent, but you don't have to UV map for them! So in some ways there eazyer. Although I have not done them yet my self.

textures overlapping with polys can be done in a cuple of ways.. you can over lap them in photoshop or other editer like 3d paint. Or you can have UV map sets ( thease get a little hairy, W/ a layered shader maybe. Or there agin you could use stencaling also.

Hope this helps for some ideas..