[Mr_Admiral]

SourceOP1/SourceOP2 were the only reasons I kept TF2 installed for the last few years. I quit playing about 6 months ago mainly due to the reasons Game outlined in the OP - the server was always either empty or packed and it seemed like you could almost set your watch as to when it was going to happen.

I got bored of waiting to join or waiting for other players and started playing other things, then the next thing you know I did what most people suggested I do anyway and uninstalled.

I think things like what blarky and Game have proposed would go a long way toward getting people to join and keep coming back.