1. Maybe it needs cleaned or repositioned? When I was on the phone with a support rep from PitBoss, he told me that there was a correct amount of distance that the hot end was supposed to be in to the burn pot. I don't remember what he said, but if it still gets hot, then it should heat up your pellets.
3. You can start your pellet grill by hand. My owner's manual had a "manual start procedure" in it. That same manual has the automatic start procedure on page 17, in the section called "manual start-up procedure"
Use idea 3 until your new hot end is delivered and installed.