I've never eaten this VS I never ate this

[hirashin]

Dear native English speakers,
What's the difference between (a) and (b)?
(a) I've never eaten this.
(b) I never ate this.

Hirashin

 

[nice gaijin]

a) if the context is 食べたことがない, this is how I'd express it.
b) is not very easy to think of a context where this feels natural. You could say "I never ate this before," if you are trying something new at a restaurant you've been to often... but I think a) is still preferable.

 

[hirashin]

Thanks for the help, nice gaijin san. So (b) is rarely used, isn't it?