Is this really something you guys are choosing to overthink?
I don't think the criminals should be touching the girls
Except none of them were criminals. They had to stop doing that because it was literally illegal for them to do. It's called entrapment, it's illegal. They also at no point ever talked to or interacted in any way with anyone underage. Not to mention these weren't even guys seeking this out really, it was cops going into chat rooms pretending to be 14 saying "hey I'm all alone and so horny come fuck me! Please please please!" Hence, entrapment and why they had to stop.
Also as needed for yet another thread, the definition of pedophile is sexual attraction to prepubescent children. Horny teenagers = not pedophilia regardless of legal status concerning sex.