Why Something Rather Than Nothing?

[datc]

The choice between the forms (essences) of the universe to be created was either random or intelligent.

You're obviously a big fan of the false dichotomy. There's an obvious 3rd alternative: Non-random & unintelligent i.e. our universe could be emergent from a set of fundamental or extra-universal naturalistic functions with no intelligent intervention required.

I don't see why I should repeat myself, but a "choice" can be made only either randomly or intelligently, as per the meaning of the word "choice." A deterministic cause definitely results in a particular effect and is not capable of choosing the effect.