You are correct, Axle was not correct.

FYI, Ignition spark is not dangerous unless there is gasoline vapor around. If it 'bites' you, it will surprise you, but it won't hurt you. It could theoretically hurt you if it fires up one arm and down the other (across your heart), but mechanics get bit by spark all the time and I've never heard of it hurting anyone. You are trying to avoid damaging your ignition system.

If you excite the primary, the coil will put out as much voltage as it needs to to fire a spark somewhere. If it cannot follow the normal path to ground, it will fire through an insulator somewhere.

You want to avoid exciting the primary side of the coil. Removing either of the smaller wires to the coil will do that.