What a weird thread.
Personally, I'm with the 'spend my coffin money on a great big p*ss up and burn me' You must burn me, I have a fear of being buried alive.
But you guys are forgetting one major thing....
Who is going to rent out these coffins for you? You will need to develop good relationships with funeral directors. They will make a few quid on renting out the coffin, but they will make more on selling them.
My husband's father died suddenly a few years ago and everyone was in so much shock. Being the daughter in law I didn't know him as well and looked after everyone during that difficult time. But, being stand offish, I could see quite objectively how it all worked from a business point of view.
Don't get me wrong the funeral directors were excellent, very sympathetic and kind of 'knew' what to say at the right time. You need someone like that to organise the funeral because your head is so battered with the loss. But, how much money do they make? Do they persuade you to go for the
a) not so good looking but cheap coffin,
b) middle of the road, nice and smart but a little bit more expensive
c) the really really nice one which costs thousands
I would say most people choose b. And while I was observing I got the feeling that everyone wanted the funeral director to choose and get on with it. No-one was bothered they just wanted him back!
I don't think they would have chosen to rent a coffin, but that was mostly my mother in law, with her traditional views. If, the funeral director had said, 'have this one and you'll spend £3,500 or rent this one for £500 and you can each have a grand to spend on what you want' I'm not sure it would have worked. With a clear head, yes, but at that horrible time you don't have a clear head. You just want him back.
So what I'm trying to say is that whatever the funeral director says, goes, generally. Everyone agrees with him/her.