When it boils down to it, the real difference between Star Wars and Trek are their core perspectives.
One is the perspective of the resister, the rebel, the rogue, the other is the enforcer, the diplomat, the conformist.
Both have bits of each other to be sure, but the core concepts are strong and entrenched. In SW rule breaking is the norm, it is expected and needed to drive the story. In ST, breaking the rules means a lot more as the rules are real and they are on our side, so rebelling means much more, but it is also entrenched as a core concept.
Which do I prefer?
The loyalist in me leans towards the Trek perspective as well as the “perfect future” it promises. I think also the direct connection to our real history helps, probably why I was drawn to Battlestar Galactica also.
Some Dominion War action.
Mechanically, from a gaming and viewing perspective, the big ship and crew dynamic also suits me better than dogfighting small craft. I also lean more towards ships combat over fighters in other genres, so it looks like teams over individuals, another theme in my life.
Star Wars came first with me, I have no early memories of the original Star Trek series, or if I do they pale in comparison to the perspective shifting first Star Wars movie. The “reality” of early SW ate alive all of the other squeaky clean SF offerings like Buck Rogers. Logan’s Run or the slightly unsettling early sci-fi options like Land of the Giants or Planet of the Apes.
I still remember the effect a dirty and worn X-Wing or Falcon had on me. It was simple, tactile, logical.
It felt real.
I worshipped all things Star Wars, I had the figures, built the early Lego-usually made it up, played TTRPG’s with a lean towards that SW feeling like Traveller or even the early Star Wars games.
Trek came later and I resisted to some extent. The “nice” and cerebral nature of Trek was nowhere near as cool as the warlike SW universe to my younger self. My early memories were of it being dull, lacking action and fun.
Over time and thanks to the presence of more Trek around during the SW draught, boosted by the mess that was the Prequel trilogy which I had zero interest in (it felt very un-real), Trek won me over and as I matured, the more mature Trek perspectives also made more sense.
It suddenly, felt more real.
The most recent offerings from the two franchises have done nothing but reinforce my perspective. I had mixed feelings about the first two Picard series, but loved where the third went, Strange New Worlds is my favourite series at the moment and the recent movies were excellent. Star Wars, or rather “Disney Wars” has been in contrast, a mixed bag at best.
One is a fight for freedom against a Nazi-like oppressor, the other is life in the future, meeting new races for good, bad and otherwise.
There is no right or wrong, Star Wars is one of many interests, but for me Trek means something.