[nickvec]

"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?"

[f33d5173]

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.

[nickvec]

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