That's because it's always been a small town family club fanbase and a fairly big ground not often full, plenty other clubs have the same type of fanbase.
It's the stadium itself that is the giant white elephant way too big and way too accommodating for visiting fans from much larger areas. PNE and Burnley, Blackpool and Bolton fans no different whatsoever....their stadiums are though.
As someone who has travelled all over supporting Rovers through various periods of form etc i will die on the hill that most places are the same when their team is shite, their are problems at the club or there is nothing to play for. The exceptions are very rare but again most don't have a stadium way to big for their core fanbase and town.
Coventry, Sheff Weds, Derby, Stoke, Boro, Sunderland, West Brom, Villa, Brum, to name a few iv'e visited regularly over last decade or so and all shite atmosphere and empty seats all over the gaff when things weren't going well.
Yet again amongst our small minded fans it only ever happens at Ewood !!!
Have some of you lot ever actually been anywhere else apart from when Rovers were on a good run ?