I had checked it out last week, and it says if you're not physically right now in your home country you can't use this site to apply for evisa. Is that accurate? I saw a lot of news coverage of this new portal, and no mention about this rule. Did the rules for this portal change recently

There is a large recent thread on this. Reading that might keep you busy for a while.

As far as I know that's always been a requirement, certainly was for the 2 applications I made last year. And both times wanted not only evidence of your  residence/presence but also full details of travel plans/bookings from the relevant country to Thailand.

11 minutes ago, crysev said:

I had checked it out last week, and it says if you're not physically right now in your home country you can't use this site to apply for evisa. Is that accurate? I saw a lot of news coverage of this new portal, and no mention about this rule. Did the rules for this portal change recently

It's not the portal it's the consulate you're applying thru

That's on the Thai Consulate in London's website
AND
most consulates require you show a flight from your country to thailand to get the visa approved,

There are quite a few cases of denial of visas even in the EU where people are applying in the country they're in BUT they're flying to thailand from a neighboring EU country and showed that flight itinerary
 

Home country or legal resident of wherever you are.