I know it is difficult to see it yet, but your employer has done you a big favor. Existence in that environment would have been miserable.
I agree with much of what Mr. Shaw says. A previous employer who initiated your termination will not be allowed to restrict your ability to earn a living in your chosen field. If you had left him, a non-compete becomes more difficult to beat. However, in your case, even if you had quit, you would have grounds based on the change in payplan, especially if you could demonstrate that it resulted in a significant decrease in pay. To some degree, the non-compete is associated with the job you accepted when you signed it. That job appears to have changed. I've got to believe that the attorney's you talked to just didn't want to be the ones to work the case.
All that having been said, I'm not surprised that potential employers don't want to mess with it. If your previous employer was a Ricoh Dealer, you will have a tough time getting on with Ricoh Direct. You are not worth the risk of potential fall-out. A Ricoh Dealer is more important to Ricoh than any sales rep.
I disagree with Mr. Shaw when he said that your previous employer won't spend the money to litigate this. Even if he doesn't think he can win, he knows he doesn't have to. He just needs to outlast you. And he may need to send the message to the others he let go as well.
Like Mr. Shaw, I am not an attorney but have been in the industry a long time...30+ years. Never have I seen a non-compete litigated in favor of the employer as long as records aren't stolen and customers aren't targeted.