I'm not keen on being able to start a fireplace from offsite, or even from out of sight.

A furnace is completely sealed and not very accessible. Also, parents are not observed fussing with the furnace. An unsupervised child might put something in the fireplace -- emulating parents who stoke the fire -- or just out of curiosity.

If the fireplace is truly sealed, then it becomes more like a furnace in terms of safety, but I'd like some over temp protection. And, what happens if the cleaning person moves the sofa in front of the fireplace then the unknowing owner stokes the fire from the airport?