All I can suggest is try again. Other users have unlocked phones that were never activated...heck - GSM phones don't even 'get activated'.
Hopefully your phone wasn't stolen or something...that would prevent you from getting an unlock code. But if that were the case, your IMEI should be blacklisted and you shouldn't be able to use it at all...
As far as the activation prompt, you MUST be unlocked in order to get rid of it. Then, use this custom SBF provided by ezeuba that bypasses activation.
http://xdaforums.com/moto-x/general/rooted-sprint-moto-x-sbf-t2834891
If nothing else you can wait and hope that Dan releases a tool to exploit his BL-unlock vulnerability he has discovered. There is no time-frame as to when it might be released, though. At least you can use the phone now, even the way it is...