“Most litigation will come from accusations that these commissions are engaging in gerrymandering or violations of voting rights acts. Consequently, the courts will remain the ultimate decider of congressional district boundaries.”

This is as it should be according to the U.S. Constitution. If district boundaries are established without regard to political party affiliation, race or ethnicity they may prevail when challenged in court.

“The most important consideration today is that each resident of a district has their own particular congressman and that each resident has an equal and undiluted vote.”

I agree. The total number resident citizens in each district within a state should be comparable.

“Congressional districts need to be rectangular except for sides made imperfect by boundaries with other states, international boundaries, and coastlines.”

Congressional districts should be compact (perimeter minimized) but not necessarily rectangular. City and county borders should be considered and enclosed within a congressional district where possible. Preservation of portions of previous district borders is also desirable if possible. See FiveThirtyEight’s The Gerrymandering Project for some implementations.

“This anti-gerrymandering provision would need to be a constitutional amendment.”

I oppose a constitutional amendment to eliminate gerrymandering. The states have the right to determine congressional and legislative district boundaries and an obligation to make them equitable. Residents of states should demand via public pressure or legal action that their elected representatives act to rectify infringement of their voting rights. When the states usurp the rights of the people, the people (not the federal government) have the obligation to correct the usurpation.