If you're a lawyer, then studying a law is fine. If you're not a lawyer, go hire one.
2257 is my safe guard. It allows me to insist on a model proving they're of age, also who they say they is, Model Release signature matches the signature in the ID. Taking a picture of a model holding the ID next to their face for every scene is my safe guard they knows it's a professional shoot.
The model release proves the date the content was shot on, something 2257 didn't cover properly.
Also gives me 100% rights to distribute the material produced that day as I wish. With no recall or further payment to the model. It shows they has been paid, I back it up with a receipt signed by them for the money. The model releases gives me the models name, address, nick names and aliases. Because I worked with models whose first language wasn't English, we also had a MR in Czech.
MR and IDs, show the model I'm a pro. They tell them this is work and I have all the i's dotted and t's crossed. They can try suing me, I have them beat.
Of course you're discussing this point with someone who was 2257 compliant before it was a law and has had decades to get it right. And had the police going through his record keeping and being told it was done well.