I don't have any great insight on this subject but I just wanted to let you know that this post really struck a chord with me. As a longtime believer in randomness above all it's nice to know other folks see things similarly.
A side note that I suppose counts as life experience. The priest who arrived at the hospital to baptize Rosemary before we took her off of the vent made a comment about her going to see Jesus and becoming a little angel. Then he doubled back, corrected himself, and informed us that she would actually always just be a little baby since all of the angels had already been created and heaven worked a certain way. It reminded me of the difference between faith and theology. I'm can appreciate faith (even if I don't really have any of my own). It's all of the theory with no basis in observable phenomena that doesn't go down as smoothly.
Thanks for writing this and jogging my memory.
T