Although you say that she wouldn't expect the Voyager to get pulled into the DQ, Voyagers initial mission was simply to head out to the Badlands and locate the Maquis under Commander Chakotay and bring them, and Tuvok, back to Starfleet. Beyond that would assumedly have been general Starship exploration. Guinan wouldn't also be needed as initially Voyager didn't have a Bar, only a wall with Replicator units on it.
Voyager never did have a bar, except for those on the Holodeck. Without Neelix, what would Barclay have named his cat?
Sandrine's wasn't on the ship, except as a Holodeck creation. There's another good reason for preferring Neelix to Guinan. Leola root stew notwithstanding, we never saw any evidence on TNG that Guinan could cook -- not even so much as putting together a peanut butter sandwich!
I would rather have Neelix, he knew the surrounding space, he had ton's of contacts in that sector. He was probably a better cook and last but not least I HATED Guinans huge hat or whatever she wore on her head, it drove me crazy : )