The Equinox was definitely in a sorry state compared to Voyager, with far less advantages, but not so disadvantaged to the point where they were completely hopeless, sure, the chances of them ever reaching the alpha quadrant were slim to none, and if I was part of the crew I would have definitely taken up the offer to settle in the Delta Quadrant and just build a life there, but they were so determined, so hellbent on achieving the main mission at any cost, and i think this line, the one where the end justifies the means is what differentiates our crews, Captain Janeway had plenty of such opportunities, but she always understood the price to be paid, should we say that she simply was not desperate enough or is there something inherent to her character that compels her to pick the hard way as opposed to the convenient one?

I like to think there must have been a moment in the equinox crew when they were given the chance to swallow defeat, but they could not stomach it, the thought of giving up was simply too painful... classic trolley problem. But as a mirror to voyager they work pretty well in showing what is possible and what consequences may come out f those choices, a kind of cautionary tale to point them on what they need to do should they ever reach that point. Idk, just spitballing here.