Medved tend to demonize the ignitor circuit it certainly will not strike an uncontrollable arc through a fuse, energy/voltage is too low. BUT it can flash over some poorly made input circuits and kill the multimeter. That's real, fuse won't help.
Anyway, if the ignitor is open circuit board, it is rather trivial to verify the components. If it is potted type, the easiest way is to check it is by replacement.
You may try to start the lamp the old school way, by connecting a low voltage (single tube) fluorescent starter in series with say, 100W incandescent bulb, parallel to HPS lamp. Incandescent lamp works for current limiting, so a short circuit current of the choke (about 2A) won't stuck the starter.