So we're in this part of the thread now. It's like Clockwork. But anyway...
Between Raffi's background as a Starfleet Intelligence Officer, her connection to Rios, her substance abuse issues, and her stubborn passive-aggressive asshole son (who I'm sure is justified in how he feels, but still, speaking as someone who lost his mother at 18, I personally think he's making a huge mistake... ), I think Raffi was the most interesting new character introduced in Season 1. There's so much potential there that hasn't (or hadn't) been realized yet.
I like to think she gained her experience during the Dominion War, and the war is supposed to be referred back to in this season. If anyone remembers "The Siege of AR-558" and how those soldiers were, if you take that a step even further than that, I can see Raffi going down the path she went down. Even Quark says, "This isn't the Starfleet you know."