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"If any of the letters of Ignatius were really authored by a historical Ignatius (doubtful...."

Why do you say doubtful?

"they would remain his opinions, nothing more."

No, they would remain his beliefs, beliefs which have been adopted by the overwhelming number of Christians over the past 1900 years.

Why do I say “doubtful”?
In reading the purported Letters of Ignatius I'm left with the impression they were a P.R. effort to turn him into a clone of Paul.
But somehow the authors couldn't quite pull it off.
And the author of the Romans letter becomes positively bizarre in his desire for death. to quote:

“May I enjoy the wild beasts that are prepared for me; and I pray that they may be found eager to rush upon me, which also I will entice to devour me speedily, and not deal with me as with some, whom, out of fear, they have not touched. But if they be unwilling to assail me, I will compel them to do so. Pardon me [in this] I know what is for my benefit. Now I begin to be a disciple. And let no one, of things visible or invisible, envy me that I should attain to Jesus Christ. Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, breakings, and dislocations of bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of the whole body; and let all the dreadful torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ.”
(Early Christian Writings)

Ah yez, tearings and breakings and and and well “all the dreadful torments”! How deliciously horrible to anticipate!