Soaking dry bark before use?

I recently started using a very dry bark substrate for my phalaenopsis orchids. (It's sold in paper bags, thats how dry it is.) I just prefer the feel of it while repotting because it is also less dirty. I've read somewhere that when using dry bark you should soak it for a few hours before use so that it's better at absorbing water in the future. Is it actually a useful tip or does it not matter that much?