IMHO if it is going to cause a distraction then don't do it. Maps are created to serve a purpose. In this case your map is to give your players a visual idea of what the world your campaign is set in looks like. In fantasy games compass directions are used quite often. As a culture we are conditioned to view up on a map as north. If you change this you will have players being forced to literally translate the map every time they want to indicate a direction which will create quite a bit of heartache in the course of the campaign.

Personally I would keep north on top. Very few people will even understand the reasoning behind the change if you do it. But pretty much everyone will be at least slightly confused by it.