The biggest problem most founders have in the beginning is just being able to devote undivided attention to it. If you have to work a full-time job and do your startup on the side for the first 1-2 years that's a huge disadvantage and it massively deceases your chances of success.

If you have something good and don't need a lot of money there's no reason you have to put yourself at the mercy of VCs -- you can maintain control.

You can't judge this kind of thing in a vacuum. What kind of scenario are you thinking of?