Do I have to activate almonds? I've never bothered before.

In spite of the current paleo diet insistence that nuts need to be activated to be beneficial and to rid them of phytates, you do not have to activate almonds to still get health benefits. Phytates actually have some health benefits, like being anti-inflammatory and providing antioxidants. If you're already eating a varied, healthy diet, unactivated almonds are fine, especially as our bodies can break down phytates anyway. However, you might prefer the softer, sweeter texture of soaked almonds, especially for certain paleo or other dishes.