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Ever != recent years

"ever" - used for emphasis in questions and other remarks, expressing astonishment or outrage.

"who ever heard of a grown man being frightened of the dark?"

When the sentence doesn't specify a time frame, it's implied as being perpetual, so being explicit is redundant and as you say used for emphasis.

Appreciate it. Was questioning whether my grasp of the English language was deteriorating!

This is the kind of comment that you just really, truly do not need to make. Ever.

You're right. Thanks for calling it out. Doesn't contribute to the discussion in any meaningful way.