I have read multiple times that, like Voidstate's squad builder, I should be able to build a randomized squadron via Yet Another Squad Builder but can't for the life of me figure out how - I feel dense even asking this, but there are so few options that I'm flat-out stumped.

Thanks in advance.

Don't feel dense. I'm not sure how this is done either.

I'm still trying to figure out how to link squads...

Yet Another XWing Squad Builder lets you link to a squad instead of just a blank list, by pressing the Permalink button in the top right.

I do now know anything about a random feature in this squad builder. However http://xwing-builder.co.uk/build has a randomize option under Tools in the top right.