I think by going with the white album approach they swam against the tide of psychedelia in the starkest way possible.
That's a great point. I was thinking last night, too, that the cover provides a sharp contrast to the music on the album, which is so . . . intense, and varied. I've never given much thought to album covers before and how the decision about a cover is made, that is, what factors affect it. I don't recall reading anything about particular covers other than the Yesterday and Today "butcher" cover. I'd like to learn more.
I think one of the reasons thy didn't use this title is because another group had just used the idea. Their record was released in July 1968.
I read that, too, zipp. I hadn't realized the records were released so closely to one another. Thanks for posting the image. I love that cover.