To be honest, of the two scenarios: 10 He pardons himself or, 2) he resigns and gets Pence to pardon him, I would choose the former. He won't be beholden to any of his federal criming if Pence pardon's him. If he pardon's himself, the power of that self serving Pardoning power will be questioned and tested by the courts and scholars and I am very certain that a self pardon isn't a thing- it's transactional (like you can't surrender to yourself), let a lone a self-serving pardon. It won't survive the scrutiny.
In SHort: yeah, you're right he will screw this up.