...Yeah, I'm going with the theory is that Herbert just wants to screw with the main characters as much as possible. I had my doubts when Kin's necklace got erased, but now I'm certain.

That being said, most of the items kinda... suck. Losing them isn't the problem; it's the fact that the Lol Pearl was meant to be the last one to be found, killing everyone just as they'd got everything out that's pissing me off.