Because the Federation had made too many compromises already. Too many retreats. The Borg invaded Federation space, and the Federation fell back. The Borg assimilated entire worlds, and the Federation fell back. Not again. The line had to be drawn there. No further. And Data was going to make them pay for what they had done.![]()
Also because he wasted way, WAY too much time on those Borg already, thinking about their tempting offer. For an android, 0.68 seconds is nearly an eternity.