Welcome to the introduction of Murphy's Law.

I lost SMN feet at least three times when I came back and was leveling up back in July. One showed up when I was low on time. I and another guy lotted for them and he outlotted me. When I told them I was out of time, the guy decided to do me a favor and pass.... but I had already used my warp scroll before then. Second time a friend of mine was doing some random farming and found a pair. I rushed as quickly as possible to open the box... by the time I reached the box, there was literally 2 seconds left and it disappeared. A third time, I was out lotted in an exp party when they dropped.

I managed to get them a forth time helping a friends farm for DNC and NIN feet.

Food for thought, I had another friend farming for NIN feet hours on end with no success a month back. Out of sheer randomness without my knowledge while I was helping some one with DRG feet seals, apparently she opened a chest that had NIN feet and they fell to me within minutes of being there.