@Ronnie_Dabbs
Map bounds:
All maps in TD and RA are always the maximum possible size. In the editor, you can then define which portion of the map is actually usable in the game. Note that the map editor will not allow you to select the full area of the map because maps always need a 1-cell outer border; this is reserved for special purposes such as spawning reinforcements to drive/walk into the map, and for getting rid of aircraft (airstrikes, Nod delivery planes, transport heli dropoffs, transport heli evacs, spy planes, etc) flying out of the map.
You can't "get rid" of map bounds; they are necessary. If you messed them up, you just need to redo them.
The system for defining the map bounds is terrible though, no doubt about that. Would be much better if instead of making a full drag selection, it allowed resize-dragging at the borders... or just defining it in a settings screen like the other map configuration options :-\
Templates:
A template is, for example, a bridge over a river. A tile is one single graphics cell from said bridge.
So as long as you're only dealing with small one-cell map decorations, there will indeed be no difference.
If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. The only area in which I'm not well-versed when it comes to this stuff is the specifics of Red Alert mission scripting.