The Lisa from TV's Weird Science becoming 7 of 9 actually has a pretty awesomely appropriate symmetry to it. Spoiler: large picture
I listened to a Podcast this week where they talked about this, and they even brought up Gibney as Janeway. I could see her as Janeway, but I just can't as 7. That would mean putting her in Borg make up to start out and considering we saw her as Leah and Bentine, that would be kind of strange.
I agree...but I have to wonder if we (and that includes me) are less than enthused by her acting ability entirely because she's a meh actor, or at least partly because she gave Geordi the cold shoulder. That was certainly understandable, as she (as Leah Brahms) was married, but our judgments of what guests do to or with our regular, comfortable characters aren't always informed by fairness. Just wonderin'.
I always figured that the reason Leah Brahms was a little cold was because of her annoyance towards Geordi vs. the acting ability of Susan Gibney.
For me, it has nothing to do with Leah Brahms or any of Gibney's Trek characters. I just don't think Gibney is the great actress the producers seemed to consider her to be.
Susan Gibney would've looked awesome in those skin tight catsuits, and as Seven, she would've been alright. As she was so loved by the production people, she would've gotten alot of stuff to do, as well. But would she have been great? I suspect she would've been servicable as Seven, however because of her limited range, I don't doubt that she'd be even more susceptible to criticisms such as only having gotten the role because of her looks - her body. And I don't think she would ever truly rise above that. Again, though, there would be no Jeri Ryan to compare her to, I'm sure Susan would work out fine. It just would've been OK, having her there, though.
If Susan had been Seven, this thread would be about whether Jeri Ryan of Dark Skies would have been a better Seven.