I don't mind that writers tend to ignore the rape, it always seems iffy to me. She didn't need it to become a hero, that wasn't her motivation. What inspired her was that night at the church, disarming the hostage taker herself and helping the boys, it was Cassie approaching her on the street and just unapologetically saying "I don't care if I don't have any powers, I'm going to join them and be a hero because I can". That's the part that I feel writers have completely forgotten
That might be a good in universe reason if not for the fact that Billy can teleport. America can teleport. Tommy can be anywhere in the country in minutes.
And last I recall Noh-Varr lives in his spaceship orbiting earth so why isn't distance an issue for him?
Clint, America, Quentin and Gwen weren't living in California before WCA started but Thompson wanted them on the team. So she came up with reasons to get them there.
The fact is that writers aren't interested in using those characters from the Heinberg run so they aren't given the same treatment.