I really like this idea!
Sufficiently distinct from DS9 to be interesting in its own right... And I love the names!
Personally, I'd put it more than a couple of days from civilised space. I'd want to make sure the SF players were well away from StarFleet help if there was a problem, although you could have an explorer class vessel in the area to provide help if it was needed - distance and availability governed by plot.
Such a vessel could also make for an interesting PC/NPC rivalry, which always spices the game up a little!
With more civilian-oriented characters, a small charter vessel and lots of primitive alien populaces in the area, you can have a 24th century revival of Tales of the Gold Monkey too... (I'm sure I mentioned that series before, but I did love it as a kid!)
Jon
"There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, where the sea is asleep and the rivers dream; people made of smoke and cities made of song.
Somewhere there's danger, somewhere there's injustice, and somewhere else the tea is getting cold. Come on, Ace, we've got work to do."
THE DOCTOR, "Survival" (Doctor Who)