Yes, the analogies to distance and place muddy the waters.
Physical things are related to their meanings in the Outside - unnatural amounts of transformative power bleed through in Topoi or is otherwise channeled by sorcerers.
Its more like translucence than proximity, I think. For example, the Few see fixed relations between meaning and being more clearly, the Judging Eye seems to veiw this relationship from a causal perspective, but neither of them see further.
Topoi seem to allow the Hell parts of the Outside leak through because they are probably created by infusing the physical area with meaning related to suffering.
It doesn't matter where the damned die though, they will still end up in their own Hell.
After looking in the Inverse Fire (which the consult venerate), proximity to a Topoi would probably just be like sitting near a nice warm heater.
Regarding the gods, they just don't seem that interested in the damned. Ciphrang get those souls.