I'm pretty sure the distance to the gamma end of the wormhole was mentioned in an episode. It would have been a longer trip. If you're talking about the danger of the Dominion as the main motivation, remember that Janeway knowingly chose the route through Borg space.
I don't know where the idea that Orions are matriarchal comes from. In episodes, the Orion females are as submissive as Oods and the males are fanatical warriors. Who decided to flip it and why do you think the flipped version is canon?
Sticking to just the voice actors I've heard in game so far, I have to go with Max Grodénchik, though my Ferengi actually looks more like Arman Shimmerman.