1) No, unless the eq gives you an affect like frenzy or bless or berserk. +hit +dam from gear never transfers over, and conversely, -hit -dam doesn't either.

2) 98% random. In that, the only non-random thing is a situation like, I'm a defensive shifter, I get tortoise at rank 30, I know for A FACT I am not getting armadillo as my form at rank 43.