Yeah, when the referendum happened the rule was still in place. So someone who had left for Australia 5 years before could vote, but someone in the EU for 15 years and a day, who was directly affected - potentially having their life turned upside down - couldn't. It actually might have made the difference. 98% in Gibraltar, for example, voted Remain. I think it would have been similar among Brits in Spain and France - and there are a lot of us.