Not necessarily, I have computer-related content which gets results like this (a bit better than this, but I assumed that the parent poster was exaggerating a bit about the 3x10^6 traffic). The problem is quite notorious, and AdSense now refuses new "tech" content.

Perhaps users who are interested in tech are the same kinds of users never click ads.

Or, know how to install adblockers :)

Do people with adblockers count as an impression?

Typically not. They don't initialize the scripts that are required to track and log the impression.

It's pretty well known that techies don't click on ads, but they're only a smaller segment of the internet population.

..until your site has them as your core audience..

I was implying that ads isn't a good way to monetize that audience. Sponsored content or affiliate networks is better.

I was under the impression that most modern blockers (uBlock etc) simply block that request from the site to the adserver, so no they wouldn't count as an impression.

It's not a CPM problem, it's a CTR one. Click through rates for news sites are abysmal.

The more useful and relevant your content is, the less people are likely to click on ads to take them to something else.