Q1- The account model doesn’t require much space as the UTXO model, why is that a benefit?
It is simpler to express in code than the UTXO model so every transaction is smaller and the files each node has to maintain grow slower. Also, the accounts updating balances after each transaction rather than tracking UTXOs results in fungibility for the coins: you can’t trace the history of each unit of ETH in the same way you can units of BTC. Units of BTC can theoretically be tracked back o the miner and, for example, if they have been used in scams or nefarious purposes at some time in the past, arguably you can say that those units of BTC are not as desirable to hold as others (something that decreases fungibility of BTC)
Q2- How is the account model not as great as the UTXO model for privacy?
With the UTXO structure, it is possible to hide your intention by sending money back to yourself as well as to your intended recipient both at the same time in the same transaction – and it is not easy for anyone to tell which is which.