I may be recalling this incorrectly, but didn’t Scooter Libby say he didn’t want a pardon because it would terminate his appeal process and he wanted to continue his appeals?
I don’t think so. Commutation would probably have had the same effect. I believe Bush points out in his book that Cheney was unhappy that it was only a commutation. If that had been what Libby wanted I don’t think Cheney would have objected.