I wanted VOY to have it rough. It's one ship, alone in the DQ (which is apparantly very hostile), it's not even the biggest or strongest ship available, with only around 150 people onboard, minimal resources and facing 75 years in the unknown before they get home. To me all of that screams: "This will be tough, the crew will be pushed to breaking point, morale will be low, the tensions between Starfleeters and Maquis will make things even harder for them (to begin with anyways), the ship may not make it through in one piece, they'll have to make sure they establish good relations with natives in order to get the bare essentials to survive in the wilderness."
It should have been more of a hard slog in order for them to get home, but instead thanks to tachyon pulses, shuttle fairies, the magically replenishing photon torpedoes, and of course the all important unending supply of replicator rations, it was a bit of a cakewalk.
But that's always been my thoughts on the show.