My grandfather insisted upon "a plain pine box" for the same reason. His funeral director was no Fred, and enclosed the pine box within a giant metal sarcophagus. Attendees at the funeral wondered if my grandfather had died of some horribly contagious disease, like typhoid, that such pains were taken to keep his body from decomposing.
Hooray for the Freds of the world, that honor the deceased's wishes and soothe the family's suffering.