The E wrote:Except that Telepathy isn't exactly a rare thing in the Star Trek universe. In all their on-screen appearances, the borg never showed any particular interest in acquiring more of it; In fact, until Voyager acquired a bunch of tech from the future, they weren't even particularly interested in actually upgrading their technology since they already surpassed all of the easy targets in their range (and the ones they didn't surpass all belong to the realm of the weakly or strongly godlike).
Granted.
Except, during the end, the Borg began to show human-like strategy. It manifested itself with the specific assimilation and reprogramming of Locutus - Picard. The Borg realized that if they had the premiere tactician of Star Fleet under its control, then the conquest of Federation space would soon follow. They were a human hair away from success.
The Borg could adopt a similar strategy in regards to the treecats. The Honorverse's premiere tactician is bonded. Their second, arguably, greatest tactician, White Haven is bonded. The Manticoran Queen herself is bonded. Control over treecats and the resulting handicapping or ensuing death of their human bonds could be a well considered and successful Borg strategy.
They just may think that assimilation of treecats, and the inevitable paralyzing
or death of Honor and others may be a worthwhile strategy. The Borg Queen thinks like humans.
Queen to Queen - if the Borg Queen strikes first at the very heart of Elizabeth, Ariel, Elizabeth could become unglued and the Soul of Steel may become malleable.