If you open empires' server list, check the Simple Server List box then refresh the server list, no servers will show up. IIRC the simple server list is what's shown to clients by default when they first install the game so they will just see an empty server list, think there is no servers and then uninstall.
Seems to be a constant issue with the server browser. Can we use a different one or are we stuck with the valve one due to being a mod? ????
Upon further investigation (refreshing when simple list is ticked on) the server browser does not show anything in the simplified list. I suggest mentioning that in the news box ASAP.