I would think DH's socks on the floor are habitual.. enabled by me picking the darn things up all the time LOL. I really don't see malicious intent disguised by forgetfulness in it. Whereas me leaving them there and him running out of socks I see as manipulative on my part, cos it would be a "see how he likes running out of clean socks" kind of thing (even if I warned him), when it IS me who does the washing, i'd just like it all put in the hamper. And yet this is being disguised as 'teaching consequences'. I just need to try and break his habit of going into the office and removing shoes & socks. Catch him before he does it and remind him to take them off elsewhere so he can put them in the hamper.
Completely off topic -

How is it being disguised though? By saying "put your bloody socks in the hamper cos I'm sick of picking them up to wash them" then following through might make a difference. Right now you are just having to 'pounce on him' to 'break his habit' and that seems like a heap more work to me