Yes, because it's better than the alternative (ruining the credit rating of your ten year old, something they'll have to fix 8+ years from now). A perfect solution doesn't always exist.
In this case it's very unlikely they would need to hire a lawyer anyway.
You're correct; it drops off your credit report after 7 years, but the debt itself doesn't go away.
The solution here is to do what one of the posters above me said to do. Dispute the claim, inform the collector that they are going after a minor, demand all further communications be made via mail.