I'm jealous also. I am in the same boat as you Sean. Hoping to get my show going this weekend as well. Random effects will be used as well in most of my sequences, as I am running out of time. 
Yep, it gets you a sequence that most of the audience will like. You then keep upgrading the sequence and just push out the new ones.
A couple of hints on "Create Random Effects"
try locking the Morph button. Morph means cross fade
lock down Effect1. This will keep it so it always starts with effect 1 and morphs into effect2
Click create "Create Random Effects" (CRE as abbrieviation)
Next pick colorwash in effect1 and lock it down
CRE
Next
Colorwash effect 1, Twinkle effect 2. Lock color palette to be just BLUE and white
CRE
If you have multiple models, Shift clicking CRE will make every model on a row have the same effect and colors. This can really cut down on
the cacophonous generation that you get with a simple CRE.
good look