Would Ryanair bother to defend a small court claim for <£200 - probably not for commercial reasons
There is something to be said from Ryanair's position, of always sending in a lawyer for all but the most clear-cut cases. If Ryanair are known to always vigorously oppose any court action against them, it makes individuals more reluctant to take legal action if Ryanair's lawyers were believed to take every procedural step possible just to make it difficult to sue Ryanair.
That big scary rottweiler you walk past might well be as gentle as a pussycat and roll over aiming for its tummy to be tickeld by visitors. The fact that it barks very loudly whenever you walk past makes tummy-tickling visitors quite a rarity.