I'm loving this convo.  And I'm with Goat -- it's only weird by our standards.  But then, to a Jewish gal, so's an open casket funeral!  I nearly screeched at my first one.  >.<

And honestly putting the dead body to a good use -- compost -- seems better than just burying them in the building materials.  At least to me.  I'm sure the whole "gotta rot 'em first" doesn't get discussed much.  Just like nobody talks about what happens to your body after burial.  But I suppose the building then becomes a monument, in a way.  But I'm not sure bodies make good building material...OOH.  Compromise!  The meat and whatever goes to compost.  Bones are used for building materials!  And nobody discusses the preparation of the dead at length.  *nodding*

EDIT: erps, smelting process.  Okay, yeah, that might work.  'Cept the whole fire thing.  But hey, if they're doing that, you could use 'em to help forge blades, too!  Maybe you get to choose, building or weaponry.  OR maybe some of the rich have their bodies used to forge specific weapons, and those weapons get names...something something status symbol....