What if she's actually trying to tell you she's bored? My old cat used to bring me hair ties when he wanted to play. Maybe the socks are like her toys and she's dropping them as an invitation for a game. She might have learned that you react when she brings them, so now it's a morning ritual to get your attention. It could be less about feeding and more about starting her day with some fun.
That's a good point from @noah326. It's funny how pets train us with their little routines, just like how we get stuck in our own patterns without even noticing. Makes you see the small habits everywhere.